Thursday 14 December 2017 00:34, UK
Martin J Ward was crowned as the new European super-featherweight champion after an explosive knockout victory over Juli Giner.
The 26-year-old brought the fight to a sudden halt in the sixth round as he floored Giner heavily and then sent the Spaniard back to the canvas with a fight-ending right hand at York Hall.
After winning British and Commonwealth titles, Ward added the European belt to his collection with a stunning victory over an opponent, who had only previously been stopped by the respected Miguel Roman.
Ward worked behind a stiff jab from the opening bell, following up with swift right hands as he tried to gain an early foothold in the fight.
But the Brentwood man became a little too adventurous in the second round, walking into a left hook from Giner, just moments after Ward had unloaded a jolting uppercut of his own.
Ward received words of caution from trainer Tony Sims and showed more discipline in the third as he pumped out a probing jab, although Giner replied with thudding hooks in the fourth.
The cleaner work was coming from Ward, who continued to find holes in Giner's defences in the fifth before delivering a devastating assault in the sixth.
A thudding left hook dropped Giner to the canvas and Ward finished off his dazed opponent in style, firing out a short, sharp right hand that resulted in another heavy knockdown.
With Giner struggling to regain his senses, the referee stepped in to signal a dramatic triumph for Ward.
