Frank Buglioni’s unbeaten start to his professional career came to an abrupt end at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday night.

The 24-year-old tasted defeat for the first time in his 13th professional bout at the hands of experienced Belarusian Sergey Khomitsky – handing over his WBO European super-middleweight title in the process.

The fight was stopped in the sixth round after Khomitsky landed several punishing shots which rocked Buglioni against the ropes.

After the fight Buglioni said he was gutted with the result and that he would be taking time to regroup and learn before returning to the ring.

Cheered from the moment he walked in the ring to the moment he left, Buglioni paid tribute to his loyal fans.

He said: "I thought my support, friends and family were good whilst I was winning. I now know they are great."

After a close opening round, Khomitsky’s power troubled the Enfield ace as he repeatedly penetrated Buglioni’s defences.

Khomitsky stepped things up in the fourth round and Buglioni's nose was cut after a powerful shot from the Belarusian.

Buglioni dug deep and looked as if he might have turned the corner towards the end of the fifth round, but in the sixth Khomitsky’s power proved too much.

After a mean uppercut, Buglioni was thrown up against the ropes and was out on his feet – by this point his corner had seen enough and the fight was rightly brought to an early conclusion.

Promoter Frank Warren said he was disappointed with the result but expects Buglioni to bounce back.

"Frank Buglioni just did not look himself tonight, he never really seemed to get going, he just wasn’t himself out there," he said.

"I thought he was just getting into it when he got caught with a succession of good shots and it was rightly stopped."