Kell Brook retains IBF welterweight title

London: Kell Brook retained his IBF welterweight title late in London late Saturday when he stopped fellow Englishman Frankie Gavin in six rounds.

Brook was an odds-on betting favourite going into the fight despite Gavin having a superb reputation from his amateur days when he won a world title.

But Gavin`s fight plan turned out to be too passive and when the reigning champion found his full range in the sixth round he piled on the pressure and forced the stoppage.

Brook remains unbeaten with 34 wins, 23 by knock-out, having taken the IBF title last year when he went to the United States to dethrone IBF champion Shawn Porter in California.

A routine first mandatory defence in March saw him quickly despatch Romanian Jo Jo Dan with minimal fuss, paving the way for this quick return to action against British rival Gavin.

"I always knew it would be tricky," Brook said. "I knew it was going to be scrappy. He`s awkward, he`s crafty, he`s smart.

"I knew I had to take my time, but I knew it was a matter of time until I nailed him.

"I could see he was tiring and I was landing heavy shots, so I knew it was only a matter of time.

"I was testing my skills out and I got it done. Now I want to move on from this."

On the undercard British heavyweight hope Anthony Joshua passed the biggest test of his professional career in fine style, stopping American challenger Kevin Johnson in two rounds.

The 2012 Olympic super-heavyweight gold medalist had easily stopped all of his previous 12 opponents and promoter Eddie Hearn decided American loudmouth Johnson was the man to give his credentials a stiffer test.