Suffolk boxing star Fabio Wardley made it 15 straight stoppages with a fourth round win over American Michael Coffie at the O2 Arena this evening.
Wardley, now 16-0 (15KO), added the WBA Continental title to his British strap by dispatching Coffie (13-4, 10KO) in front of more than 17,000 fans as the chief support to Anthony Joshua's return to the ring.
It proved to be a good learning fight for Wardley, who wore the badge and colours of Ipswich Town into the ring, as Coffie presented a difficult target, rolling the shoulder to protect his chin and offering a fairly negative approach to the battle.
But Wardley stuck to the jab, often doubling it up, as he stayed patient in search of openings for his devastating right hand.
Fabio Wardley lands a left in the fight-ending flurry against Michael Coffie (Image: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
After edging the first three rounds, Wardley unloaded a blitz of more than 20 unanswered punches in the fourth stanza, which had Coffie, a regular sparring partner of former world champion Deontay Wilder, covering up on the ropes.
Referee Howard Foster stepped in to save the big American, though it appeared he was in no trouble and could have continued.
Take nothing away from Wardley though. This was the latest win in a remarkable career to date, which saw him turn pro after just four white collar fights - and no amateur experience - before winning both the English and British heavyweight crowns.
After the fight, Wardley was asked it if was stopped early. He replied: "Yeah, slightly.
"Coffie's an experienced operator, he's slippery and tricky and he can ride some shots, so he was probably still half there, but I would have finished it off.
"Either way, the job's done."
Fabio Wardley celebrates his 15th straight stoppage win (Image: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
He added: "Look, he's a tricky operator. He can switch stances, go in that shell, he can pull a high guard.
"There was a lot for me to go over and think about on the fly, so just as I was finding my rhythm, finding my spots, I got a few good shots off and I was pretty confident I could have closed the show.
"But like I say, a win's a win."
The next step seems certain to be a first defence of his British title, with Olympian Frazer Clarke, English champ Solomon Dacres and unbeaten prospect David Adeleye all calling for their shot at the prestigious Lonsdale belt.
The Suffolk puncher stressed he wants to win the belt, one of the most famous in all of boxing, outright, meaning he'll need to defend it three times.
Wardley said: "I want to win the belt outright and I want to do it in style and in fashion too, against good opponents.
"I want to have fights like the Nathan Gorman fight (KO 3) that I did to win the belt, that are good, competitive fights.
"The British title holds so much prestige and the people hold it so close to their hearts that you can only do it justice by having the right fights.
"I've said all week in the build up to this that I welcome all-comers."
Fabio Wardley with his corner team (LR) Matt Brennan, Rob Hodgins and Ben Davison (Image: Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing)
Asked who of the above trio he'd like to face, Wardley said: "Next is irrelevant.
"I want to win it outright, so I'm going to have to have three fights for it regardless.
"I think Frazer holds the most prestige. To beat someone like Frazer, an Olympic medallist, would be the best scalp of the lot for me."
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