Cork middleweight fighter Gary 'Spike' O'Sullivan took a step closer to a potential fight with WBA and IBO champion Gennady Golovkin after he beat Melvin Betancourt in Boston to claim the vacant NABA middleweight title in Boston.
Fighting on the undercard of James DeGale and Andre Dirrell, O'Sullivan (21-1) made short work of Betancourt (29-2), stopping him in the second round of their scheduled 10 rounder.
After edging the opening round, O'Sullivan dropped his opponent with a fierce right hand in the second and though Betancourt got up to take an eight-count, he was soon on his back again courtesy of a right hook and this time he counted beat the count.
O'Sullivan had previously stated his desire to fight Golovkin next and the manner of his victory here will have done his chances no harm.
In the card's headline fight, DeGale made claimed the vacant IBF super-middleweight title with a thrilling unanimous decision victory over Dirrell.
The Londoner appeared on course for a sensational early stoppage after dropping Dirrell twice in the second round, with the first knockdown coming from a brutal overhand left.
Dirrell weathered the storm in the early rounds as DeGale looked for the knockout and even came on strong in the second half of the fight.
But DeGale finished strongly and two judges scored the fight 114-112 in his favour, with the third of 117-109 seemingly a bit harsh on Dirrell.
