Unbeaten George Liddard became the youngest British and Commonwealth middleweight champion in history with a highly impressive stoppage win over Kieron Conway.
The 23-year-old from Billericay, Essex, had the defending champion down in the ninth at York Hall in Bethnal Green following a straight right hand that landed flush on the chin.
Another right cross staggered Conway in the 10th, prompting his corner to throw in the towel and save him from further punishment.
The victory improved Liddard’s record to 13-0 while Conway, from Northampton, suffered the fourth defeat of his 28-fight career.
“I feel on top of the world – I feel like a kid at Christmas, a kid in a candy shop, but my candy is belts,” Liddard told BBC Essex.
“I think everyone was shocked how cool, calm and confident I was coming into this fight – people thought the occasion would get the better of me, people thought it would be a step too soon, but I knew this was my time.”
He added: “Everyone thinks you’re delusional until you go and do it.
“I want to test myself against the best, that’s just the way I am, it’s what has been instilled in me since I was a kid, to always push that bit further. And look, I end up being the youngest British middleweight champion ever.”
