Lee Purdy won the IBF inter-continental welterweight title with a fourth-round stoppage victory over Gumersindo Carrasco.
Purdy stops wild and woolly Argentine inside four rounds
Lee Purdy won the IBF inter-continental welterweight title with a fourth-round stoppage victory over Gumersindo Carrasco at Alexandra Palace.
With two renowned punchers going toe-to-toe for the vacant title, it was a fight that was unlikely to last the distance.
Carrasco brought an unbeaten 16-fight record from Argentina and he threw leather from the outset, however it was Purdy who seemed to be landing the more telling shots.
'Lights Out' knew his opportunities would come with Carrasco's wild and woolly gameplan, the right hand proving particularly useful in setting the Argentine onto the back foot.
Carrasco went down in the opener, and although he was caught with a left hand it was more a case of Purdy pushing him over, although the referee administered a count.
The visitor continued to throw accurate combinations, catching Purdy on numerous occasions although the Essex bomber kept his gloves high and blocked most of the blows.
Intent
While Purdy poured forward Carrasco threw countless punches, and he simply couldn't keep up the pace - particularly as the home fighter was the more accurate of the pair and clearly hurting his man.
With three rounds in the bag Purdy came out with intent and it was a sweet right hand that dropped Carrasco for a second time.
He was on the canvass again to a left to the body shortly afterwards and then when backed onto the ropes, a classy combination left the Argentine helpless and the referee did the correct thing by stopping the fight.
"I had a look at him in the first round and I just believed I could take his power, which is why I put the pressure on him," Purdy told Sky Sports.
"He's never done 10 rounds once and I'm a seasoned pro now, I can do that for 12 rounds. I felt what he had, I believed I can take it.
"I didn't even get started in that fight, please believe me there's much more to come. This is what I love to do, I'm a fighter through and through.
"If they're like him and they want to stand in front of me then so be it, and will take them out."
