Wayne McCullough enjoyed a successful homecoming in Belfast's Maysfield Leisure Centre last night when he stopped Russian Nikolai Eremeev in the fourth round.
McCullough dominated from the opening bell in his first fight in Belfast in seven years.
Referee Marcus McDonnell called a halt to the bout when Eremeev's corner threw the towel in at the end of the fourth round.
Las Vegas-based McCullough, who is tracking WBO featherweight champion Scott Harrison, simply out-classed his Russian opponent who showed plenty of heart as he soaked up tremendous punishment.
McCullough, who throws over 100 punches a round, started brightly and midway through the first he finished off one of his blistering attacks with a right upper cut which left Eremeev staggering.
By round two Eremeev was looking to survive and, as he continued to back-pedal, McCullough stalked him relentlessly, driving home punch after punch.
Eremeev's head was slapped back repeatedly and his face reddened as McCullough trapped him against the ropes and unloaded.
As the Russian sat in his corner waiting to come out for the third he already looked exhausted.
Nevertheless, he managed to stand up to further assault in the third and came back with some decent punches of his own on the retreat.
McCullough was warned for low blows, which was greeted with boos from the crowd, but he continued to wear the Russian down with his severe body blows.
Eremeev was looking for somewhere to hide but there was no escape as McCullough trapped him again against the ropes and with little coming back from the Russian the towel was thrown in.
PA