Mexican Cosme Rivera proved too hot for James Hare as his long unbeaten run came to a shock end.

Roberttown's Hare lost his WBF welterweight belt before a stunned Huddersfield crowd last night. His corner threw in the towel near the end of the tenth round.

It was the 27-year-old's first loss in his 30th fight and ended what would have been a glorious year on a sad note.

Hare was defending the title he won in the summer for the third time in three months. But he denied that it was a fight too many.

"It's a factor but I want to take responsibility for my own actions," he said. "I've got to be a man and stand by my decision to take the fight. I just wasn't the fighter on the night that I know I am. But I've got to learn from it, pick myself up and rebuild my confidence."

Word on the grapevine suggested a possible IBF eliminator next on the agenda as Hare looked to break America in the new year. That has gone out the window for now and promoter Tommy Gilmour may re-route Hare towards a British title shot.

Hare's future plans were untangled by the rangy Rivera, who exploited his five-inch height advantage from the outset. The champion looked off balance as he struggled to reach Rivera, who caught him early with several body shots. It was a worrying sign of things to come.

By the end of round two, Hare was slumped on his stool in the corner as the body language betrayed his anxiety. Rivera dominated the first four rounds, although a nasty cut under his right eye gave Hare hope.

His supporters were surprisingly muted, sensing that their hero was in trouble, but they tried to rally him in the mid-rounds. Hare produced some better work but it still lacked conviction as he grew more and more disheartened.

Gilmour knew his man was in trouble and left his chair to check out the TV monitors on the other side of the ring. The stats confirmed his fears. Rivera, who hails from the same town as boxing legend Julio Cesar Chavez, upped the pace in the seventh and one little flurry wobbled Hare, who launched a brief but furious response.

Hare attacked again in the eighth but Rivera kept coming on strong towards the end of each round, finding regular success to the champion's head.

The Mexican was moving in for the kill and forced Hare back against the ropes early in the tenth. Up he got, only to be propelled against the other side of the ring and then bounced off a third corner.

Rivera rocked him with a straight right, following up with another head-high barrage before a thudding left hook powered Hare through the ropes.

Referee John Coyle had barely begun his count when Chris Aston threw in the towel to save Hare from further grief.

Gilmour said: "Rivera fought above himself and James probably fought below, but I know that he will come back."