Lee Selby called for a British battle with Carl Frampton after his dominant ninth-round stoppage victory over Andoni Gago.
The Welshman's planned IBF title defence against Jonathan Victor Barros was called off at late notice in January and Selby ended 11 months of inactivity by halting Gago at The O2.
After dropping Gago in the opening round, Selby would have expected to claim a swift victory over the Spaniard.
But Gago bravely stood his ground until a left hook unravelled his defences, prompting the referee to step in.
On a busy undercard on the David Haye v Tony Bellew bill, heavyweight David Allen picked up his second stoppage victory within seven days as he pounded David Howe to a halt.
A left hand to the body dumped Howe on the canvas in the second round and he was counted out after Allen dropped him again with a left hook.
Ted Cheeseman extended his unbeaten record to eight victories as the super-welterweight prospect picked up a 78-74 points win over Jack Sellars .
The 21-year-old Bermondsey fighter dropped Sellars heavily with an overhand right in the second round, but the Halifax man recovered well to make Cheeseman work for an eight-round verdict.
More boxing results from the O2
Click on each fight for a full report
Tony Bellew bt David Haye (TKO, rd 11)
Katie Taylor bt Monica Gentili (TKO rd 5)
Sam Eggington bt Paulie Malignaggi (KO rd8)
Ohara Davies def Derry Mathews (TKO rd 3)
