Danny Butler vowed to come back a better and wiser fighter after his bid to win the English middleweight title ended in agonising failure at the Fenton Manor Centre in Stoke-on-Trent last night.

Bristol's British Masters and Western Area champion put up a magnificent effort on a Sky-televised Hatton Promotions show in the Potteries, only to fall just short against durable Darren McDermott.

Dubbed the Black Country Body Snatcher, the 31-year-old, from Dudley, used his superior experience to carve out the narrowest of victories on points (96-95) and retain the title he claimed when out-boxing Steve Bendall nine months earlier.

This was only the second defeat in Butler's 20-fight career, but, at 22, his time will come again. And he was in philosophical mood after failing to win his third title inside a year.

"He was a bit too experienced for me," admitted Butler, who struggled to deal with the champion's spoiling tactics.

"But it was a really good learning fight for me and I feel I've grown up in the ring tonight. I'll go back to the gym after I've recovered from this, watch the video re-runs and improve in the areas I need to.

"It wasn't to be on this occasion, but I'm young and I'll come back a better fighter for the experience."

McDermott owed the 17th victory of his 20-fight career to a shock knockdown in the fifth round and Butler conceded: "I think that was the difference come the end.

"He didn't hurt me and I was back on my feet quickly. I knew it was close, but the knockdown gave him an advantage for the rest of the fight.

"I thought the referee could have helped me more and stopped the clinches, but that was him (McDermott) using his experience."

McDermott sought to impose himself from the first bell and wobbled Butler with a concerted two-handed assault midway through the first round. The Bristolian had to hold on, but managed to stay out of trouble until the bell.

Required to step up the pace, Butler set a high tempo throughout the next session to even the fight up, opening a cut under McDermott's left eye with an arcing overhand right, and the pair stood and traded in the middle of the ring to share the third round.

Butler fought on the counter attack in the fourth and did enough to win the round but was soon back in trouble in the fifth, dropping to the canvas after walking onto a beautifully-timed right cross from the champion.

He was back on his feet without taking a count, more stunned than hurt, and immediately came back with a flurry of punches to back McDermott against the ropes. But the Midlander had done enough to take the round.

Butler reasserted himself in the sixth and McDermott looked tired as he returned to his stool at the end of the session with blood seeping from the wound over his left eye.

The champion sustained another cut to the top of his head in the seventh, but was still more than holding his own and Butler's corner urged him to up the pace as the fight entered its final phase.

Butler worked methodically behind his jab to shade the next round, but the ninth proved a scrappy affair as both men tired. McDermott forced the pace in the final round, but had to fend off a furious assault from the challenger in the closing seconds before his hand was raised in victory by the narrowest of margins.