Hartlepool Boxer Alan Temple's hopes of winning the IBF inter-continental title bit the dust when he was stopped by lightweight champion Steve Murray at Wembley Conference Centre.

Temple went to London full of confidence that he could halt the unbeaten record of the Essex fighter in a contest which was also an eliminator for the British title.

But the IBF champion made the southpaw his 14th victim and the 11th inside the distance.

Murray showed his awesome punching power by putting down Temple twice in the opening round, although the first shot looked more of a push on the shoulder than a clean hit.

And in the second round Murray felled the challenger with a fierce body shot and the 27-year-old lifted himself up off the canvas for a third time.

However, when the Frank Warren boxer connected with a second left hook to the body a minute later it was all over - Temple went down and London referee Richard Davies called an immediate halt.

Trainer Peter Cope said: "It was a cracking shot. I don't think anyone would have stayed up."

It is now a case of back to the drawing board for the Gus Robinson camp who had seen Temple work his way up the British rankings.

Temple is now going to have a break and take stock of the situation, but boss Robinson said: "Alan has a lot of ability and I am sure there is still a way forward for him."

Mohammed Helel, another boxer in the Gus Robinson camp, was also in action at Wembley Conference Centre against a Frank Warren opponent.

Helel too failed, but went the distance with former Irish Olympic boxer Francis Barrett, who won their light-welterweight bout on points.

Meanwhile Evander Holyfield has declared his intention to make it third time lucky with Lennox Lewis after securing the vacant World Boxing Association heavyweight title in controversial fashion but Lewis' promoter has said that Mike Tyson is still next for his man.

After a dubious points decision in Las Vegas claimed by challenger John Ruiz to be ''like a robbery without a gun'', Holyfield who only earned a title shot after Lewis was stripped of the belt for refusing to fight Ruiz announced that Lennox was now in his sights.

''I would like to fight Lennox Lewis,'' he said. ''It's up to Lennox what he wants to do, but you can't pick up the money you really want to pick up by fighting these other guys.

''He can fight me one time and make more money than the next four fighters.

WBC and WBO champion Lewis is back in the frame for Holyfield after relinquishing the WBA belt with his refusal to fight mandatory challenger Ruiz. Holyfield feels he could now tempt Lewis with a re-unification battle.

But Lewis has said he would never fight for the WBA belt again, and with the bewildering number of boxing organisations belittling the value of the once-coveted title of undisputed champ, Lewis will probably stick to his stated ambition fight Tyson and retire.

And, as Holyfield admitted: ''He's in the driving seat and it's kind of up to him. But I'm hoping to get Lennox to fight me in April. It would save me a lot of time.''

Holyfield also denied that his next target would be Tyson: ''I would prefer Lennox Lewis. It's not about Mike Tyson. I won't be heavyweight champion of the world by beating Mike Tyson.''

Such talk however is unlikely to move Lewis, having effectively defeated Holyfield twice already albeit only once in the record books.