Carl Frampton is on the verge of a world title tilt after an impressive sixth-round knockout of France's Jeremy Parodi in Belfast on Saturday night.
The 26-year-old extended his unbeaten record to 17 wins from as many fights as he retained his European super-bantamweight title.
There was a partisan atmosphere inside the Odyssey Arena and Frampton gave the home support plenty to shout about, dominating this bout which was billed as an IBF world title eliminator and then delivering a brutal body shot, with Parodi dropping to his knees before being counted out.
Frampton told Box Nation: “I feel great. Every super-bantamweight in the world, I am coming for you.”
A composed Frampton was on the front foot from the off, his left jab getting through early on and a couple of combinations troubling his opponent in the opening round.
The home favourite remained on top in rounds two and three, pushing his opponent back at every opportunity.
A solid left hand in the fourth sent Parodi staggering back and, with Frampton targeting the a cut above the Frenchman’s left eye, a couple of big right hands had him shaken.
But Parodi was proving to have plenty of courage, soaking up the punishment albeit without giving Frampton too much to think about.
The fierce left to the body thrown by Frampton at two minutes 59 seconds of the sixth was too powerful for the Frenchman, though, as he fell to his knees and was counted out.
