Kevin McBride scored a fourth round TKO win over Byron Polley overnight in Cleveland in what was his first fight since defeating Mike Tyson last June.
McBride kept on track for a possible shot at the 7ft, 23st 1lb Russian Nikolai Valuev and his WBA heavyweight crown later this year.
Polley was floored in the third round at the Wolstein Centre and the fight was halted at 2:28 in the fourth with a deep cut seeping out over the Missouri fighter's left eye. McBride was improving his record to 34 wins (29 KOs), 4 losses and a draw.
Tipping the scales at a career highest weight of 20-and-a-half stone, McBride was admittedly a little sluggish. He said afterwards: "My timing was off a wee bit having not fought for 10 months, but this man (Polley) was never going to hurt me.
"I'm just glad to be back in action and fight for (my new promoter) Don King. Every fight I gain more experience and I'm on the right road to winning a world title. I want the Nikolai Valuev," added the 32-year-old Derry man.
McBride's next outing will be on the undercard of Ricky Hatton's world title fight in Boston on May 13. An opponent is yet to be confirmed.
