MICHAEL Mooney’s manager says an official complaint will be made to the British Boxing Board of Control after the fourth-round stoppage of the fighter’s English lightweight title eliminator.

Mark Wall, who trains the Worcester boxer, claims the decision to halt the 10-round contest against Ben Wager at Barnsley’s Metrodome was “ridiculous”.

Mooney, from Tolladine, was stopped after coming under a barrage of punches, including two upper cuts, from Wager.

However, Wall reckons the referee intervened prematurely.

He said: “All of a sudden the referee jumped in and stopped the fight.

“Mooney hadn’t been down or given a count.

“He’s worked hard to get where he is.

“He’s fought and beaten better fighters and deserved a shot at a 10-round fight.

“In boxing there will be a winner and a loser and if you lose, you lose but you lose properly and we feel he was robbed of an opportunity.

“I have watched it several times to see if there’s anything I have missed but I am fuming about it. I understand the decisions are difficult but this one was ridiculous.

“I will be writing a letter to the British Boxing Board of Control.”

Mooney, 29, will now be targeting a Midland title fight against Jamie Spence in Gloucester in March.

Wall said: "There's no doubt that Michael will win a title next year."