Saturday 4 November 2017 23:23, UK
Scott Quigg is firmly on course for another shot at a world title after defeating Oleg Yefimovych in their WBA featherweight title eliminator in Monte Carlo.
Yefimovych had never been stopped as a pro but Quigg's power was too much for him and the referee called a halt to proceedings in the sixth round.
Former WBA super-bantamweight champion Quigg has lost just once in his career, to Carl Frampton, and he is now in line to face the winner of Leo Santa Cruz's expected rematch with Abner Mares.
The Brit looked to be aggressive throughout on Saturday night and landed a couple of blows in the first round, but the counter-punching Yefimovych also had a couple of good moments.
Both continued to trade punches in the second but Quigg then tightened his defences and really took charge in round three.
The Bury man landed a series of powerful blows and rocked Yefimovych with a particularly fearsome right hook.
It then looked like the fight might be over in the fourth as Quigg went on the attack once again and trapped Yefimovych in the corner before unleashing a barrage of punches.
But the Ukrainian somehow made it to the bell and then survived the fifth as well, although he was once again on the back foot throughout.
It was a similar story in the sixth and, with Yefimovych's face battered and bruised, the referee stepped in to end matters after Quigg had landed yet another clean right.
"Early on, I was a bit reckless. You cannot do that at a higher level," said Quigg.
"When I started relaxing, going through the gears, I felt miles better.
"From about round four onwards, I don't think he wanted to know."