Billy Joe Saunders defended his WBO super middleweight title by finishing Marcelo Coceres on the KSI vs Logan Paul undercard on Saturday night.
The fight was one much closer than expected. Saunders went in as heavy favourite but his Argentinian opponent was hugely competitive and may have even been ahead on the judges' scorecards by the time the fight entered its 11th and final round.
In the 11th, Saunders put Coceres on the canvas three times. The first time was 40 seconds into the round, the second - via a powerful uppercut - came 45 seconds later.
The referee stopped the fight with just over a minute left in the round after Saunders had the 28-year-old Coceres on the deck for a third time.
"I'm not one to make excuses but I came over here five days ill, nine hours of difference, I haven't slept right for five days, a bit of a cough and chest infection," Saunders told Sky Sports after the fight.
"I could go on and on but I'm an honest man: tonight, that wasn't world class performance; it was a world class finish. That just shows you what type of fighter I am.
"Canelo might watch that and think, 'Now is the time to get him. He didn't look too good'. The thing I'm kicking myself about is I knocked him out when I knew I had to knock him out.
"Canelo Alvarez is the one I want next and I'll put that performance right, 100 per cent."
