Commonwealth title retained at York Hall

Northen Irishman Carl Frampton proved his credentials once again with a workman-like performance over Scotsman Kris Hughes that ended with an explosive right hand in the seventh round.

The 24 year-old continually targeted the tall challengers body to good effect and slowly wore the rangy ‘Badger’ down in the first six rounds until a spectacular finish with an overhand right.

Hughes, also 24, was clearly in no position to fight on following the blow and referee Mark Green waved the fight off to the delight of Frampton’s manager Barry McGuigan at ringside with Eddie Hearn.

Frampton now moves on to 12-0 with his eighth stoppage and the calls for a huge domestic battle involving ‘The Jackal’ and British champion Scott Quigg will surely be echoed if the Bury man defends his title against Jamie Arthur next week.

In chief support, Erick ‘The Eagle’ Ochieng stopped Nick Quigley in nine rounds in what turned out to the be Fight of the Year so far to claim the English light-middleweight title.

Both fighters traded blows continually for the previous eight sessions in an action-packed fight, until Quigley’s father Tony Snr pulled his son out just ten seconds into the ninth to crown the Stoke Newington-native.