Former world amateur champion Frankie Gavin continued his perfect start to life as a professional with a second-round stoppage win over veteran Steve Saville in Liverpool on Friday night.

Gavin, 24, was in his first scheduled six-round fight having won his first three professional outings by stoppage.

However those rounds were not required as he produced his best professional performance to date, outclassing Saville and landing solid shots to knock his man down and force an early finish.

The contest at the Echo Arena in Liverpool also represented a West Midlands 'derby' with rookie Gavin hailing from Birmingham and Saville, 33, being from Wolverhampton.

Gavin turned professional with some fanfare in February, having become Britain's first boxer to win a gold medal at the World Amateur Championships in 2007 - only to miss out on the Olympics due to weight issues.

Joined by fellow former amateur stars James DeGale and Billy Joe Saunders in signing with promoter Frank Warren, the southpaw light-welterweight was upping the stakes tonight by taking on an experienced opponent in Saville (19-6, 8KOs).

Saville was making a step up both in weight and class, however, and the difference in ability was plain to see.

Gavin made a patient start, feeling his way in from range and landing regular but solitary shots to the body before a delightful left to the ribs was followed by a southpaw right hook to the head at the end of the first round.

The young prospect put more shots together from the start of the second as Saville merely tried to survive. More body shots took their toll before a beautiful right hook rocked the Black Country man.

Sensing a way in, Gavin threw a straight left down the middle which landed flush on Saville's nose and sent him to the floor. Saville regained his feet but after a close look from referee Howard Foster, the contest was waved off with 28 seconds of the round remaining end.