SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – Josh Padley recorded a fifth-round stoppage win over the unbeaten Marko Cvetanovic in Sheffield, England tonight.

Padley, now 16-1 (5 KOs), was boxing for the first time since defeat to Shakur Stevenson in February. He aimed to impress his new promoter Eddie Hearn after his spirited defeat to Stevenson in Saudi Arabia and he certainly delivered.

Padley was full of confidence and eagerly awaited the sound of the first bell. As the session began he sprung at Cvetanovic, now 13-1 (6 KOs), and quickly made the Serbian understand which of the two of them was the boss. Padley got physical in the second, he whipped in a right hand that stunned Cvetanovic before barging the Serb into the ropes. He then unloaded again on Cvetanovic, but the Serbian covered up well.

Padley, 29, picked up the pace in the fourth, and bullied Cvetanovic around the ring. He whipped in a shot to the body and followed it with a right hand upstairs which had Cvetanovic, 29, in survival mode. In the fifth, Padley finally broke through with a hard right hand which sent Cvetanovic tumbling into the ropes and onto the canvas beneath him.

Cvetanovic returned to his feet, but Padley sensed his opportunity to close the show and took it. He whipped in shots to the midsection of Cvetanovic which made the Serb wince in pain. As Cvetanovic’s hands dropped to protect his body, Padley whipped in a right uppercut to his head which forced Cvetanovic to crumble to his knees. Cvetanovic returned to his feet, but the referee Steve Gray had seen enough, and called a halt to the contest after 1 minute and 13 seconds of Round 5.

Earlier, Caoimhin Agyarko picked up a career-best win over Ryan Kelly in an eliminator for the British junior middleweight title. Agyarko, now 17-0 (6 KOs), has been criticized in the past for not taking fights, but proved many wrong by stepping in to face Kelly on short notice.

There was no feeling out process from either man; the pair met in the centre of the ring at the sound of the opening bell and planted a jab into each other’s faces. Kelly, now 19-6-1 (8 KOs), pushed the action, whereas Agyarko elected to counter on the back foot.

During the second round Agyarko, 28, was guilty of giving Kelly too much time and space to plan his attacks. The taller Ryan was able to land his stiff jab with little coming back from Agyarko. The Irishman came out for the third with more intent and started the session by countering Kelly’s long jab with a sharp right hand.

In the fourth, Kelly, 31, upped the pace and again pushed Agyarko around the ring. The Irishman fired back his sharp counters but they were now narrowly missing and Kelly was starting to take control. Kelly landed his best shot of the fight in the fifth, and a right hand from range landed and cut Agyarko above the left eye. Kelly then sunk in a left to the body which brought a wince from Agyarko. As the Irishman returned to his corner at the end of the session, it looked as though he was starting to feel the pace.

The counters from Agyarko were not landing anymore, and in the seventh the Irishman elected to switch things up. He was done with boxing on the back foot and pressed onwards, landing a nice flurry of shots midway through the round. In the eight, Agyarko again pushed forwards and landed a left hook, which Kelly felt. The Irishman had his best round of the fight so far, taking the centre of the ring and landing hard shots on the inside.

Agyarko battled through the blood still pouring in his eye and again met Kelly in the middle of the ring. The Irishman looked as though he was feeling the pace but dug in deep to give Kelly as good as he got. Kelly again fired in his jab, but Agyarko landed the more eye-catching shots.

The fight hung in the balance heading into the tenth and final round, and after Agyarko’s slow start, the Irishman seemed to be looking for a stoppage to make sure of victory. Agyarko landed a left hand which rocked Kelly, but the Irishman’s gum shield fell out in the process and he wasn't able to capitalize on having his opponent hurt.

Both men believed they had done enough at the final bell and raised their hands as they waited for the official decision. Agyarko then erupted as he was awarded a majority decision by scores 95-95, 97-94 and 96-94.