On Saturday night in Verona, New York, light heavyweight contender Callum Johnson blew away Sean Monaghan in three rounds.
Johnson (18-1, 13 KOs) bounced back from a TKO defeat at the hands of IBF world champion Artur Beterbiev.
Monaghan (29-3, 17 KOs) was no match for the power of Johnson, who also had Beterbiev down before getting clipped by the champion later on.
In the main event of the same card. WBA light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol used his speed and sharp combinations to dominate Joe Smith Jr. over twelve rounds.
The judges awarded Bivol a lopsided unanimous decision with scores of 119-109, 119-109 and 118-110.
Bivol (16-0, 11 KOs), 28-years-old, is looking for a big fight in his next return - at 175 or even the super middleweight limit of 168 - and Johnson may present too much risk without enough reward.
Johnson was very pleased with the victory and hopes to fight again in the United States, and has no issue facing Bivol on American soil.
“I thought it was a good performance, I can’t say it was perfect. I learned a lot from Beterbiev fight. I would love to fight [Dmitry Bivol] and I think these people would love to see me back in America," Johnson said.
“I needed the win to get back on track. But mentally, I needed that loss more. I think that got me in the place that I learned what I need to do in camp now, the little things. Working on tactics and my diet and things like that. Eddie is here to make sure that I am getting the biggest fights so I can make money for my family.”
“There isn’t a fighter that is out there in the light heavy division that is stronger than me. I have the power to knock anyone out. I know I had a tough competitor ahead of me in Monaghan. I enjoyed myself out there."