Liam Walsh suffers third-round knockout defeat to Gervonta Davis in their world title clash

The 31-year-old had waited almost five years to become a world champion since the collapse of a fight scheduled with Ricky Burns in 2012, but was simply outclassed by one of the planet's most promising fighters.

America's Davis, 22 and from Baltimore, is a talent to the extent his promoter and mentor Mayweather insists he is capable of reaching a similar level to the one he once graced.

That may prove a stretch, but the IBF super-featherweight champion is swiftly proving himself an exceptional fighter who can be expected to remain a leading figure during the coming decade if he retains his focus amid the trappings that will come his way.

This was only his 18th professional fight, and the 17th he has won inside the distance. Walsh, meanwhile, is capable of recovering from his first defeat; it simply proved his misfortune to be matched against a champion of Davis' calibre.

The American set an impressively high pace from the opening bell, landing with both jabs and left hands that forced Walsh to abandon his southpaw stance and switch to orthodox.

If it was not already, the size of the task he faced became clear beyond doubt in the second, when the American's consistent speed and accuracy ensured he continued to land further hurtful left hands.

A particularly big left hurt Walsh in the third as he increasingly struggled to defend himself, and sensing his vulnerability Davis continued landing that same punch with increasing power until he forced the first knockdown.

The challenger returned to his feet after a count of nine but remained unsteady and the fight should have been ended there and then. Davis instead resumed his hurtful assault, forcing referee Michael Alexander to intervene amid Walsh's protests after two minutes and 11 seconds.

"He was hurt pretty bad; the referee did his job," Davis said.

"It was just a matter of time before I got him. I used my boxing IQ and picked my shots. When I connected I got him out of there.

"I'm still on the rise. I became a champion super fast."

Walsh (21-1, 14KOs), who entered the bout as the No. 1 challenger and the decided local favorite at Copper Box, was disappointed with the stoppage.

"He's very fast, very active, but that was too quick," Walsh said. "He won fair and square, but sometimes they stop the fight too early.

"I never got an opportunity.  I'm not saying the result would be different, but give me a chance.

"I'd love to fight him again.  I'd fight him for next to nothing."  

There had been some cheer for the Walsh clan earlier in the night as Liam's twin brother Ryan won the British featherweight title outright after stopping Belfast's Marco McCullough.

Fighting for the first time since a failed attempt to win the European strap against Denmark's Dennis Ceylan back in October, Walsh was in control throughout and it was only the sheer bravery of the challenger that saw the fight reach the later rounds.

But a sustained attack in the 11th finally saw referee Howard Foster call it off after 1:58.

Also on the undercard, rising star Anthony Yarde will challenge for the WBO European light-heavyweight title on July 8 after impressively winning the Southern Area belt by dismantling champion Chris Hobbs.

The 25-year-old from Ilford made it 11 wins from 11 fights - 10 inside the distance - as he dropped Hobbs five times with body shots before the towel was thrown in seconds from the end of the fourth round.

Yarde will now face Hungarian Richard Baranyi (18-1, 12KOs) at the Copperbox Arena as he goes in search of European honours.

Another top prospect. Greenwich heavyweight Daniel Dubois, needed just 40 seconds to chalk up his third straight victory since turning professional as he stopped Sheffield's David Howe with a clubbing overhand right.