Saturday 27 June 2015 11:11, UK
Rocky Fielding further enhanced his growing reputation with an explosive stoppage win over Brian Vera in the second round.
The unbeaten super-middleweight floored the American twice to force the intervention of referee Ian John-Lewis and paved the way for a possible clash with Merseyside rival Callum Smith.
Vera, who holds a win over WBO middleweight champion Andy Lee, was expected to pose problems for the Liverpool prospect, but he could not cope with the 27-year-old's superior punch power.
Marching forward from the first bell, Vera walked into a looping right - smiling back in acknowledgment - but he was left with a stunned expression when Fielding dumped him on the canvas with a jolting uppercut.
Again Vera tried to laugh off his disastrous start and the bell gave him added time to regroup.
Fielding refused to let his foe settle in the second, unleashing a furious assault, and Vera was stunned by a barrage of punches before a big left hook dumped him on his back by the ropes.
There was slight controversy about that knockdown, though, as Vera had appeared ready to accept a count from the referee having touched down already - only to be met instead by a shuddering hook from Fielding.
Vera clambered upwards and into another ferocious flurry from Fielding, with a big left hand leaving the American on unsteady legs - prompting referee Ian John-Lewis to step in.
Fielding said afterwards: "I was expecting a tough fight. I was nervous because I expected a tough 12-round fight but I knew I was carrying some power and I got the job done.
"We were in the changing rooms and I was practising slipping his jab and then throwing the left uppercut. I was buzzing with that. I worked hard with Oliver. That was the fight I needed.
"If he's still in front of you then you're still going to hit him if he's not on the floor. I hit him with some good shots."
