Former Leeds United and Fulham striker, Ross McCormack, endured a tough night on his boxing debut, suffering a first-round defeat in a charity bout, according to talkSPORT.
The 39-year-old Scotsman, who also had spells with Aston Villa and Rangers during his football career, stepped into the ring to face former Leeds teammate Matt Kilgallon.
The contest featured on the “A Night to Remember” card held in Liverpool on Friday, an event staged by Pro Project Promotions to raise funds for charity.
Pro Project Promotions is run by former Arsenal goalkeeper Graham Stack, with the boxing nights designed to support charitable causes while bringing ex-footballers into the ring.
Friday’s show in Liverpool featured several familiar names from the football world trading boots for gloves, including ex-Scotland striker Chris Iwelumo, who faced former Swansea forward Lee Trundle.
However, it was the McCormack-Kilgallon clash that drew most attention, even if it ended quickly.
Both men started aggressively, trading wild punches in the opening exchanges as they looked to assert dominance.
McCormack briefly appeared to get the better of the action, but a sharp jab from Kilgallon helped swing momentum back in balance.
The Scot then attempted to respond with a powerful right hand that failed to connect, before Kilgallon landed a devastating left hook that sent him crashing to the canvas.
Although McCormack was given the chance to continue, he was unable to beat the referee’s count, sealing a first-round victory for Kilgallon.
After the bout, both former teammates shared a respectful embrace, with Kilgallon celebrating bragging rights on the night.
