STRELLEY'S Jason Booth stopped just short of talking of retirement after slipping to a heavy points defeat against Kid Galahad in Rotherham.

Two judges scored it about right at 118-111 and 118-110, while the third had Galahad taking the WBC International super-bantamweight scrap 120-109.

He had obviously missed the first-round knockdown, where Galahad took a standing eight count.

A left hook to the top of the head caught the Kid off balance and he touched down just before the bell.

That was about as good as it got for Booth. A pro for almost 16 years, it seems that time is finally starting to catch up with the 34-year-old.

Galahad, who was six when Booth was having his first fight, bossed the second with fast hands and quick footwork.

Booth was reduced to trying to connect with big overhand left and rights.

Galahad was getting on top of Booth and found his head a surprisingly easy target.

But a big left in the fifth reminded The Kid that Booth was still around and it probably earned him a share of the round.

Galahad, who had never been past six rounds in his previous ten fights, was oozing confidence now, connecting with a couple of body shots and a left uppercut in the seventh.

Although Booth was more aggressive in the next two rounds, he was making little impression on the youngster.

If the plan was to tire Galahad out and then step up the pace, it wasn't working. If anything, he was looking stronger.

Booth needed a big finish, but he couldn't produce it and it was The Kid who finished with a flourish.

In the end the Ingle-trained youngster was simply too quick for veteran Booth.

"He reminds me of a younger version of me," said Booth, gracious as ever in defeat.

"He is a very, very clever fighter. He can go far and I wish him all the best. Watch out for this kid. He is young and sharp and he caught me coming in."

Four defeats in his last five fights, all for titles, looks bad on Booth's record. But he played his part in a cracking bout and is far from being a shot fighter.

Gedling super-bantamweight Leigh Wood made it three wins in a row when he beat Mansfield-based Pavels Senkovs 40-37.