Carl Frampton retained his IBF super-bantamweight title with an impressive fifth-round stoppage of mandatory challenger Chris Avalos at a raucous Odyssey Arena in Belfast.

The Northern Irishman was making the first defence of the world crown he won by defeating Kiko Martinez last September and he did not disappoint his vocal home fans on Saturday night.

Frampton rocked his American opponent in the second round and then stepped up his assault in the fifth before referee Howard John Foster stopped the contest midway through the round.

Frampton's win was the perfect birthday present for his manager, mentor and promoter Barry McGuigan, the former WBA featherweight champion.

McGuigan, who turned 54 on Saturday, said of his charge: "This is the best super-bantamweight in the world. There are aficionados out there who think Rigondeaux is.

"He's the best super-bantamweight in the world. That includes Leo Santa Cruz, Scott Quigg and Guillermo Rigondeaux. He's a sensational fighter and over the next couple of years we're going to prove that."