FRANCIS Jones' dream of British title glory last night ended in defeat - but not disgrace.

The heroic 26-year-old was stopped by reigning welterweight king Kevin Anderson less than a minute from the end of their titanic struggle at Kirkcaldy Ice Arena.

Jones, aiming to become Darlington's first British professional boxing champion, did his town proud as he produced a super-human effort against the 24-year-old Scot .

Anderson, the odds on favourite, repeatedly tried to blast out the underdog.

Yet Jones, who had never been beyond six rounds in his previous 23 bouts, refused to buckle and the only time he went down in the tenth looked like a slip rather than the result of a punch.

But Anderson, well clear on points, seized the initiative in the last and pinned Jones on the ropes with a sustained assault with both fists.

At this point, referee Victor Loughlin jumped in to halt Jones's herculean effort.

Anderson had been well in front on all three of the judges scorecards at the end - 109-100, 108-100 and 110-99 - but while the Kirkcaldy man took the prize there was no doubting Jones could take many plaudits for his display.

Jones, who went into the fight on the back of a run of five straight wins, four inside the distance, was always behind in the Scotsman's backyard.

Anderson took control from the start, but once Jones got his jab going he warmed into the contest.

Time after time, Anderson would fire off a volley off shots, only for Jones, living up to his nickname of Fearless, to counter with some slick right hands.

There were flourishes from the challenger including in the tenth when he rocked back the head of the champion.

In the penultimate session, Jones landed with a super right upper cut and left-right-right combination, but he could not put the Scot down.

It looked like going all the way to the judges' scorecards, but Anderson's late burst stopped the former Hartlepool United footballer's spirited challenge.

Anderson paid tribute to Jones and admitted: "He was a tough, tough guy, he showed a lot of strength.

"I thought I had the fight won after four or five rounds, but he just kept coming back.''

Sky Sports pundit Jim Watt joined in the praise: "Nobody expected him to see the second half of the fight after the way it started, but he just kept going.

"Jones was just getting used to the pain and started getting some success.

"It was a wonderful fight and a great effort from Francis Jones.

"He never gave in and wanted to make the end of the fight, but by the end he just had nothing left.

"I think he took bravery to new heights.''