Heavy-punching Callum Johnson wanted one last shot at the big time, but his return has been derailed.
Jonson, who last week signed with manager Carl Greaves in his bid for a final title push, was defeated in a six-rounder by Austine Nnamdi, and he was down in the final round of their bout at The Nest in Nottingham.
Nnamdi is now 14-6 (11 KOs) and Johnson lost for just the second time in his career as he fell to 23-2 (15 KOs). The only other defeat came in 2018 and it was a firefight with Artur Beterbiev for the world light-heavyweight title.
The Englishman was dropped in the first for the IBF belt but returned the favor in the second. Beterbiev, however, rallied to halt him in the fourth round.
Johnson, a former Commonwealth Games champion in the amateurs, has struggled for activity since. He looked world class stopping Seanie Monaghan in three rounds in his next fight but has boxed just six times in the seven years that followed.
Johnson, 40, is set to open up his own boxing and fitness gym.
