Savannah Marshall has set up an undisputed world middleweight showdown with Claressa Shields with a brutal third-round stoppage of Femke Hermans.
Having watched Shields successfully defend her IBF, WBA and WBC belts in February, Marshall was left to put her WBO crown on the line against the European champion.
In front of a passionate home crowd in Newcastle, Marshall was made to miss during the opening two sessions, and Hermans would have been delighted with how the fight was panning out.
However, Marshall enjoyed more success in her third and soon after a stiff left jab had troubled her opponent, she closed the show with a left hook when the pair were trading.
A conclusive finish came in the final second of the third round, the referee not administering a count with the Belgian laying motionless under the ropes.
Discussions are now expected to take place for a super-fight between Marshall and Shields, long-time rivals from their amateur days, to take place in the summer.
Darren Plant
