Early success for Gavin

Former world amateur champion Frankie Gavin claimed a second-round stoppage win over veteran Steve Saville in Liverpool.

Gavin, 24, was in his first scheduled six-round fight, having won his first three professional outings by stoppage.

The Birmingham light-welterweight produced his best professional performance to date, outclassing Saville and landing solid shots to knock his man down and force an early finish.

The 33-year-old Saville (19-6, 8KOs) was making a step up both in weight and class and the difference in ability was plain to see.

Gavin made a patient start, feeling his way in from range and landing regular but solitary shots to the body before a delightful left to the ribs was followed by a southpaw right hook to the head at the end of the first round.

The young prospect put more shots together from the start of the second as Saville merely tried to survive. More body shots took their toll before a beautiful right hook rocked the man from Wolverhampton.

Sensing a way in, Gavin threw a straight left down the middle which landed flush on Saville's nose and sent him to the floor. Saville regained his feet but referee Howard Foster stopped the contest with 28 seconds of the round remaining.

DeGale wins

Olympic gold medallist James DeGale also made it four wins from four with a third-round stoppage victory over Ally Morrison.

The 23-year-old Londoner came into the contest against unbeaten novice Morrison (2-0-1) aiming to make it three first-round stoppages in a row after impressing in his last two outings.

While he failed to do that, it was another accomplished performance by DeGale - who landed hard shots throughout before stepping up the assault with a series of left hooks to bring about an early finish.