Refusing to be denied some 10 months after falling agonisingly short against now-champion Liam Paro in Australia, the 35-year-old displayed guile, expert timing and lethal left hands to deliver Eubank's second career defeat — even more damaging than the first.

An exhausting 12-round battle, Ron Kearney scored it closest at 113-111, while judges Vincent Dupas (115-110) and Grzegorz Molenda (115-109) were more favorable for the Frenchman who refused to be denied on the road again.

During his post-fight interview, Papot acknowledged Eubank's explosivity in a tactical firefight but was naturally happy to rebound from a career-first defeat on another big stage. On what's next, his translator said:

"According to us, David Papot is the No. 1 welterweight in the world. He won against Paro in Australia, all the world saw this victory ... a bad decision, but now David is very experienced and deserves a world title shot."

Eubank could be excused for his part in an anticlimactic outing against Jack Catterall this time last summer, where an accidental clash of heads forced a premature end following six completed rounds. That night, while he didn't get going, there was a hint from observers that he wasn't ready for the step-up in technical ability.

Here, there was no suggestion he lacked heart but, again, the defensive frailties shown previously against lesser opposition came to the fore against a determined visitor just as hungry to win their IBF world title eliminator.

A pair of quick-fire knockdowns in Round 10, just as Eubank (22-2, 9 KOs) pressed forward intently looking to finish strong, all but settled the story during their DAZN main event. He'd arguably won five of the last six rounds, though couldn't stay out of the way as Papot's heavy punches were precise and caused problems aplenty.

Absorbing a heavy left he didn't see coming, the nine-year pro needed all his recovery powers to survive in the fire against Papot, three years his senior, who threatened a finish down the stretch and referee John Latham had to separate them several times in a messy final frame. Try as he might, there would be no last-ditch heroics.

Eubank, 32, was honest in his post-fight assessment and complimentary of Papot, much like Team Paro was after their absorbing battle in September.

"I'll come back stronger from this, learn, get more experienced ... I couldn't pull it back at the end but all credit to David tonight, he'll be champion. Go back to the gym, get better and test myself on the world stage again. I don't think I'm too far off. I'll make it to where I'm meant to be. I'd love the rematch as well, if David would give it to me."

After a feel-out round in the first frame without much incident, action caught fire late in round two when Papot (31-1-1, 5 KOs) caught Eubank with a left hand as they traded at close-range. Papot's perfectly placed punching sent him to the canvas, but the bell soon saved the Brighton man.

Eubank walked forward with a crimson cut over his right eye, trying to time and land the better work through Rounds 4 and 5. In the first minute of the sixth, he was having success but loading up too much, missing when trying to chain together one-two combinations. Not to worry, he continued aggressively and got his reward.

Papot was caught cleanly, walking onto a counter left as they exchanged in the seventh and there was a sense of Eubank's eagerness to take over after the euphoria of his own knockdown.

Yet that successful moment played into the Frenchman's hands with Eubank lacking the discipline or awareness to box at distance while keeping his guard up, rather than be a stationary target. Instead, that same aggression and energy expended meant he needed a strong finish.