Boxing: Amir Khan celebrated his 21st birthday with a truly astonishing, coming-of-age performance to stop former world title contender Graham Earl in the first round at a packed Bolton Arena last night.
It was the second defence of Khan's Commonwealth lightweight title in only his 15th professional fight, while 29-year-old Earl, from Luton, was returning to the ring for the first time since a brutal defeat at the hands of Australian Michael Katsidis in February when they contested the WBO interim world title.
Earl undoubtedly represented the toughest test of Khan's career to date despite the Olympic silver medallist being a heavy favourite.
But Khan confounded his critics with a stunning, quickfire stoppage victory after swarming all over the stunned Earl and knocking him down just one minute and 12 seconds into the fight.
Both fighters got down to business immediately after the first bell, weighing in with swinging and somewhat speculative shots.
Earl was first to connect with anything significant as a leading left opened the way for a further assault. But Khan immediately got the measure of his opponent and countered anything else Earl came forward with in fine style.
One such counter-assault forced Earl to retreat but, spurred on by such success, Khan steamed forward with trademark enthusiasm.
A fantastic left hook rocked Earl to his boots less than a minute into the contest and when Khan immediately followed up with a similar shot, the veteran's chin was hanging out and the resulting punch sent him to the canvas.
Referee Howard Foster administered a mandatory eight count before the fighting resumed. But it soon became clear Khan had the fight all-but won, as the young Lancastrian surged forward with a flurry of punches which left Foster with no option but to step in and wave it off.
Afterwards Khan claimed he would fight for a world title "tomorrow" after outclassing Earl in 72 seconds.
"It's up to (promoter) Frank Warren - but I'll fight for a world title tomorrow and prove everyone wrong," he told ITV1. "I wasn't surprised (at the quick stoppage), I'd been training hard for this fight.
"I want the number-one spot and he was the number one in Britain, and I wanted to beat him. I knew he was hurt after the first knockdown and I wanted to put the pressure on."
Khan added: "After the first knockdown I saw his eyes - he didn't want any more. He was gone and I put the pressure on."
The youngster revealed he had been spurred by what he saw as disrespect from Earl.
"I was fighting the best fighter in my career and the way I took him out in the first round surprised me," he said. "When there's someone there disrespecting me, calling me a kid, it hurts me. It motivated me and I've proved a point to all the critics.
"Graham is a great fighter, he's been a world champion, been the European champion - so for me to beat someone like that in the first round is great."
Warren - who confirmed Khan's next fight would be on February 2nd - admitted he was shocked at the speed of the victory.
"I never expected that at all," he said. "I thought it would be a tough fight and get to 10 rounds. It was a phenomenal performance. He's made a statement tonight. Fantastic."
Earl was critical of Foster's early stoppage of the bout.
"He's sharp and strong, but they shouldn't have stopped the fight there - I knew what was going on," he insisted. "My head's clear - I've been in fights where my head's gone. It's boxing, you've got to take shots, it happens. You can't just jump in."
Earl also denied any suggestion tonight's battering could mark the end of his professional career.
"I'll be back stronger. That's my division," he added.