Eubank stops McKenna as Conlan wins on return

Harlem Eubank floored Tyrone McKenna three times before the fight was eventually stopped in the 10th round

Harlem Eubank claimed the IBF Inter-continental welterweight title in his home town of Brighton as he proved too quick, slick and powerful for Belfast battler Tyrone McKenna to claim a 10th-round stoppage win.

Eubank entered the bout with a perfect record from 20 contests and maintained that to catapult himself into the mix for a title shot as he grew into proceedings after a quiet opening and scored three knockdowns before referee Mark Lyson stepped in to stop the contest.

The 31-year-old was tested at times, with a game and rugged McKenna having his moments, but as the rounds passed, the direction of travel was clear.

In the chief support slot, Belfast's Michael Conlan shook off 15 months of inactivity to get back to winning ways against Indian fighter Asad Asif Khan, claiming a 78-74 points win that paves the way for a crack at the European featherweight title.

Under the tutelage of new coach Grant Smith, Conlan was seeking to get back into a grove and although it was not a perfect display, it was enough to get the job done as it was confirmed he will next take on Spain's Cristobal Lorente for the EBU belt.

Conlan switched stances throughout the fight and although admitting later he had hurt his left hand, this seemed his greatest weapon throughout the eight rounds.

Khan had plenty of moments as he remained ambitious, finding a home for the right, but Conlan had more in his locker to get through and improve to 19-3, putting successive defeats behind him.

Eubank solves McKenna puzzle

There was was quite a cagey opening to the later main event as 35-year-old southpaw McKenna, holding considerable height and reach advantages, sought to box rather than brawl, with Eubank tasked with solving the puzzle.

The pace increased a little more in the third, with Eubank getting closer and wrestling the visitor to the floor twice - neither ruled knockdowns - but it indicated more of a willingness to get inside.

Speed was on Eubank's side as he landed a flush right hand in the fourth and this gave him confidence to go back for more despite being tagged earlier in the round, as there was a sense he was now starting to solve the riddle.

Despite the Belfast man wearing a welt under his right eye entering the fifth, he remained composed but was made to pay late in the round as he mistimed an attack and Eubank was quick to punish with a chopping right dropping the visitor.

McKenna was up immediately but ate another right on the bell as he returned to his corner with a wry smile across his features.

Beyond the halfway point, Eubank was now into a flow and his advantage in terms of power was highlighted again as having taken a flush shot, returned one of his own that backed up McKenna and seconds later, another short right had the Belfast man on the floor.

However, McKenna's durability has always been without question as he bounced back up.

Although McKenna was game, he seemed to have run out of ideas and while a low blow gave him a momentary reprieve in the 10th, there was no debating what followed as Eubank produced another knockdown, with the follow-up assault enough for referee Lyson to call a halt.