Sunday 31 July 2016 11:58, UK
Josh Warrington moved one step closer to a world title shot after stopping Dubliner Patrick Hyland on Saturday night.
The 'Leeds Warrior' earned a ninth-round stoppage in front of his huge local support at the First Direct Arena, moving to 24-0-KO5 in the process.
The 25-year-old already had a tiring Hyland down earlier in the round and the Irishman was previously floored following two big right hands in the eighth.
Warrington, a former British, European and Commonwealth champion, also retained his WBC International featherweight strap and will now be confident of completing the full set.
With current WBC champ Gary Russell Jr likely to move up in weight, number one ranked challenger Warrington looks well set to fight for the vacant title, while a fight with IBF holder Lee Selby could still be on the cards.
The International belt was only on the line for Warrington as Hyland came in over two pounds overweight at Friday's weigh-in and the struggles to make weight told as the fight went on.
Warrington - who will now look forward to a summer wedding - was too fast and potent, landing clean punches throughout the fight, while Hyland struggled to work behind the jab.
It was the eye-catching combinations from the Leeds favourite that enhanced his claims that it was one of his most accomplished performances to date, made sweeter by a rare early finish.
It was a left jab that got Hyland down first of all in the ninth, before a flurry of punches sealed victory, the referee having seen enough.
"It was a really accomplished performance," Warrington said to Sky Sports after the fight.
"Hyland is a tough man who hits hard and I had to keep my hands up and be aware of what he was throwing. I listened to my corner in-between rounds and in the end, we got the result.
"It's always added pressure to keep winning in front of my fans and it's very pleasing when I have a performance like that.
"If Lee Selby wants it, he can have it, but he isn't the only route and we have many options available."
