By Miguel Assuncao

O2 Arena, London - Jamie McDonnell (27-2-1, 12KOs) defends his WBA World bantamweight title with a ninth round stoppage of late replacement Fernando Vargas (29-9-3, 20KOs).

Doncaster’s McDonnell was originally due to face Juan Alberto Rosas, but took little time to adapt to the threat of Vargas, using his high work rate and rangy jab to keep his opponent at bay.

The Mexican challenger needed two attempts at making the weight on Friday and struggled to deal with the speed and footwork from the champion, often getting caught with stiff left hands as he pressed forward.

McDonnell - fresh from back to back wins over Tomoki Kameda in Texas - looked assured and grew in confidence as the fight went on and become more willing to bring his right hand into play, landing clean in both six and seven.

The 30-year-old is not know for his power but had Vargas wincing with several body shots round the guard in the eighth and followed up with another series of punishing shots in the ninth that sent the Tijuana man to the canvas before the referee waved the fight off.