Chris Eubank Jr produced a chilling fourth round stoppage win over Tom Doran to stay on course for an ambitious world title shot against Gennady Golovkin.
The much talked about meeting with Golovkin had dominated the build-up to Eubank's British title defence and he clinically dismantled Doran to pave the way for a fight with the middleweight king.
Just seconds into the fight, Eubank Jr received an early rebuke from referee Marcus McDonnell for staying motionless in his corner, but quickly burst to life in the opening round.
Two swift punches buckled the knees of Doran, who briefly appeared to catch Eubank Jr off balance, prompting a defiant dance from the fighter billed as 'The Next Generation'.
Eubank stabbed out stinging jabs in the second round and the Welshman was forced to withstand a jolting uppercut.
But Doran's defences unravelled under a ferocious assault in the third round, with Eubank hammering in spiteful hooks, and a glancing right uppercut sent his dazed opponent to the canvas.
He staggered to his corner and the bell only offered brief respite to Doran, who was floored three times on the way to defeat in the fourth.
Another uppercut dumped Doran back on the canvas and he was dropped twice more by a flurry of punches before McDonnell mercifully waved off the fight.
In his post-match interview, Eubank Jr reiterated his desire to challenge Golovkin, the WBA 'super' and IBF champion.
"It's all about making statements," he told Sky Sports. "I feel I'm at world level now and can be challenging for world titles. Gennady Golovkin - I'm coming for you and I'm coming for your belts. Everybody's scared of you but I'm coming for you.
"(Billy Joe) Saunders I'm coming after you too. You're going to get it. Anybody with belts, I'm coming from you. I want the hardest, toughest challenges out there for me."