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Lee Purdy was left in tears after he was pulled out at the end of the seventh round of his fight with world welterweight champion Devon Alexander.

A late replacement for stable-mate Kell Brook, Purdy failed to make the 147lb weight limit on Friday and so was unable to win the title in Atlantic City.

And while he put up a brave fight, he was outclassed by the American, who was making the first defence of his IBF belt.

Tearful: Lee Purdy argues with his corner after he was pulled out at the end of the seventh round Purdy afforded his opponent too much respect in the opening minute as Alexander picked him off with his jab before switching downstairs with both hands.

The underdog eventually began to exchange but Alexander looked far from fazed and ended the session on top, forcing Purdy back on to the ropes with some aggressive uppercuts.

The visiting fighter attempted to close the gap on Alexander in the second session but succeeded only in taking more punishment from the champion while offering little in response.

That pattern continued into the third stanza and for all his bravery, Purdy looked to be on a hiding to nothing as one punch after another found a way past his guard.

But the Colchester man refused to be intimated and goaded Alexander in between shipping uppercuts and hooks in the fourth round.

Purdy’s trainer Tony Sims had been unable to travel to Atlantic City and so middleweight Darren Barker took charge of his corner and compelled his gym-mate to win the fifth round in order to stem the tide.

One-way traffic: Devon Alexander (right) outclassed Purdy before the Brit was pulled out And while he couldn t quite manage that, Purdy did make more of an impression on the champion while at the same time keeping his guard high to fend off the repeated attacks.

Alexander by now appeared to have injured his left hand, using it increasingly sparingly as the fight reached the halfway stage, which itself was something of an accomplishment for Purdy.

But he was allowed to continue for just another three minutes as Barker pulled his stable-mate out at the end of the seventh session, much to Purdy’s frustration.

‘Devon wasn’t hurting me,’ he told Sky Sports .

‘We don t live in an ideal world; I took it at four weeks notice.

I knew everything would be an uphill struggle.

‘I took world class shots.

I l know when I fight for a world title next time, I can take those shots and throw my own but the better man won.’ ‘I was gutted to be pulled out.

I’d have stayed in there until the end but I have to respect Darren’s decision.

I’m devastated; I wish I’d had eight-weeks notice but we didn t.

I put a brave performance in.’ Brave effort: Purdy kept coming forward but was unable to make an impression on the champion Barker meanwhile admitted it was a difficult decision to pull his friend out.

‘He is one of my good fiends,’ he said.

‘Why would I want him dragged out of there? He’s a young man with a good future ahead of him.

‘This is a sport and you’ve got to think of his health.

He was in there with a great champion and did us proud.’ Alexander meanwhile set his sights on a fight with either Amir Khan or Floyd Mayweather.

‘He Purdy came to fight and that’s what I expected him to do,’ he said.

‘I hurt my left hand in the first round and couldn’t throw it.

‘Lee Purdy did an excellent job.

I’m glad he came to fight and give me some rounds.

I knew he was tough; I like his spirit.

‘If my team comes up with Khan, I ll fight Khan.

If they come up with Mayweather, I ll fight Mayweather.

‘