Ricky Burns breathed fresh life into his career with a highly impressive third round stoppage of Scott Cardle on the undercard of Oleksandr Usyk-Tony Bellew.
The former three-weight world champion was at something of a crossroads having suffered back-to-back defeats to Julius Indongo and Anthony Crolla last year.
But the 35-year-old Scot proved too good for Cardle at the Manchester Arena as the Coatbridge fighter put himself in line for bigger showdowns at lightweight or light-welterweight in future.
Burns used his combinations to excellent effect in the opening couple of rounds against fighter who had lost two of his previous four fights.
It was two single shots in the third that would alter the fight, though, Burns opening up a nasty cut over Cardle's eye with an overhand right.
Later in the round, another devastating right hand floored Cardle, who was able to beat the count but was clearly dazed, leaving the referee little option but to call a halt at two minutes and six seconds into the third round.
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