Sunday 3 April 2016 09:05, UK
Callum Smith blasted his way into world-title contention by stopping Hadillah Mohoumadi inside a round.
Liverpool's super-middleweight star took just 1 minute 41 seconds to claim the win as an unstoppable barrage of shots saw him not only take the European title but move into the WBC mandatory challenger position.
Smith has time and patience on his side but in front of a home crowd at the Echo Arena, he exploded into action and treated Mohoumadi with the devastating disdain that Rocky Fielding had felt.
Mohoumadi had never been stopped before and as soon as the bell sounded, he was on the offensive, pinning Smith in the corner and landing a lovely uppercut with the first shot of the fight.
Smith responded instantly with a big left counter that not only stopped the Frenchman in his tracks, but triggered the sort of finish that will send a warning to WBC title holder Badou Jack.
Mohoumadi's wild hooks left him wide open and within seconds, Smith was all over a man who previously took IBF champion James DeGale the full 12 rounds.
It was fast, furious and showed that even though he is just 25, 'Mundo' has the full fighting armoury to call on.
Three left hooks all landed in a split-second sequence, a right uppercut came next and then a right hand and left hook had Mohoumadi on the ropes, trying to survive.
But when 17 unanswered shots - with both hands to the head and the body - landed with frightening accuracy, it didn't take long for the referee to step in.
Smith's clinical finish showed the super-middleweight world he is ready to tackle the top performers and add another world title to Liverpool's famous fighting family's collection.
"I prepared for a tough fight," he said.
"He'd never been stopped so I had respect for him. I'm hitting hard and getting bigger and bigger. I'm 25 but a young 25. I feel I'm improving so bring on who's next.
"He came out of the blocks pretty quick so [trainer] Joe [Gallagher] told me to stay tight. His shots were pretty predictable and I hurt him with the first counter I threw. I like to think I'm a good finisher and I got him out of there.
"I've always claimed I'm not a big puncher but my record suggests differently now. I think I can hurt anyone in the world. I was knocking journeymen out but now it's the European champion."
