Heavyweight Hughie Fury had Patrick Korte rocking and reeling in the second round with a right hand, and as the heavyweight contender surged forwards throwing more of the same referee Reece Carter called the fight off.

There was little complaint. The aggressive Korte is now 21-4-1 (18 KOs) and the 40-year-old German was never off his feet, but Fury was poised to pile on the hurt.

It was Fury’s second fight in a month, following an absence of almost three years. 

Time of the stoppage was 2:06 of the second.

“I just wanted to get the rounds in,” said Fury. “The opportunities were there from round one, but I wanted to turn into my shots, get more practise under the lights. I definitely need this activity, and if I can fight every week, I will do. 

“The main thing is activity, I’m not afraid to fight anyone but the main thing for me is activity. I love to fight and I will fight anyone.”

Trainer and father Peter Fury said: “If he’s not going to win world titles and be world class, he might as well pack it in. Let’s take it fight by fight. Although he’s doing okay, there’s still a lot to work on.”

Fury has already boxed the likes of Kubrat Pulev, Joseph Parker and Alexander Povetkin and is 28-3 (16 KOs). He is still only 29, and this had optimistically been set for eight rounds.

Welsh featherweight Rhys Edwards is now 16-0 (4 KOs) after a wide decision win over veteran Thomas Patrick Ward, 34-2-1 (5 KOs) following a closely-contested battle at the Cardiff International Arena.

It was a good fight, with both boxers competing at a high-tempo and with plenty of quality on display. 

The sixth round was excellent. Both had their moments and while Ward might have had more success, Edwards did not let him pull away. So many of the rounds were close, even if the scores were ultimately wide. Edwards, trained by former middleweight contender Gary Lockett, won by margins of 99-91 and two cards of 98-92.

“It was a good, competitive fight and I showed my class,” said Edwards.

“He’s a good old fashioned Valley boy with good manners and good morals and I’m proud,” said Lockett.