Luis Ortiz extended his unbeaten record with a seventh-round stoppage win over a brave David Allen at Manchester Arena.
The Cuban heavyweight has been named as a future possible opponent for IBF champion Anthony Joshua and he stayed on course for major fights after breaking Allen's resistance with a steady assault.
There was more posturing than punches in the opening round, with Allen engaging in an early display of showboating as he put both fists behind his back.
Ortiz instantly showed more aggression at the start of the second round and revealed a satisfied grin after exchanging punches with Allen.
The southpaw was gradually beginning to figure out Allen's back-foot approach and a classy left uppercut made the Yorkshireman's legs dip.
But 'The White Rhino' continued to stand firm in the third, despite wincing at a low blow, and he shrugged off another uppercut from Ortiz.
There was no respite for Allen in the fourth as a straight left hand knocked him off balance, however, he would display his grit and earned encouraging cheers with a looping hand.
An increasingly weary Allen appeared to have sustained a jaw injury, which drew a few concerned words from the referee, and he ate another huge uppercut from Ortiz in the fifth.
But Ortiz maintained his patient attack and made the breakthrough in the seventh as a straight left unravelled Allen's defences before a flurry of punches forced the referee to step in as he sagged on the ropes.