Joe Joyce scores impressive stoppage over Bermane Stiverne
Londoner retains Commonwealth titla and adds the WBA Gold strap to his collection
Londoner Joe Joyce (8-0) showed an impressive work rate and punch volume to stop former WBC world heavyweight champion Bermane Stiverne (25-4-2) in a defence of his Commonwealth heavyweight title.
Stiverne, 40, lost the green belt to Deontay Wilder in 2015 and arrived at London's O2 Arena for his first UK fight at a career-high 19st 7lb.
He caught Joyce in the first but quickly became an easy target for the 33-year-old home fighter, who landed shots at will, dropping the Haitian-Canadian with a right hand in the third stanza.
Backed to the ropes, B.WARE somehow soaked up punches right up until the sixth round when referee Howard Foster rightfully stepped in to end the contest and seal an eighth win of Joyce's professional career.
"Big respect to Bermane Stiverne, he's very tough and stuck in there but I guess I was just too much," said Joyce. "It was about being patient as he's such a tough guy he took all those shots. There are big things to come."
Chris Eubank Jr outpointed James DeGale in the main event, winning back his IBO world uper-middleweight title. There was a win for Lee Selby over Omar Douglas at lightweight as well.