Josh Warrington dominated Sofiane Takoucht just as the lopsided odds suggested.

The unbeaten British featherweight tore through Takoucht on his way to a second-round, technical-knockout victory Saturday night at First Direct Arena in Leeds, England. Warrington knocked down the French southpaw twice in the second round and continued his assault until referee Bob Williams intervened to spare Takoucht from taking more punishment.

Williams stopped their scheduled 12-round, 126-pound title fight at 2:54 of the second round, which sent Warrington’s hometown crowd into a frenzy.

The 28-year-old Warrington (30-0, 7 KOs) made the third defense of the IBF featherweight title he won by upsetting Wales’ Lee Selby by split decision in May 2018 at Elland Road Football Ground in Leeds.

The 33-year-old Takoucht (35-4-1, 13 KOs) lost by knockout for the first time in his 12-year pro career. He had won seven straight bouts before Saturday night, but each against an average opponent or worse.

Takoucht, ranked No. 4 in the IBF’s featherweight ratings, was an optional opponent for Warrington, who went off as a 50-1 favorite.

Their fight was much different than Warrington’s last fight, a mandatory defense against another southpaw, England’s Kid Galahad. Warrington had difficulty while winning that 12-rounder by split decision June 15 at First Direct Arena, in part due to Galahad’s style, which included a lot of holding.

He had no such trouble Saturday night.

Warrington knocked Takoucht backward by landing a right hand with just over 10 seconds to go in the first round. He followed up by landing a left and a right to Takoucht’s body just before the opening round ended.

Warrington wasted little time pouncing on Takoucht in the second round.

He floored Takoucht with a perfectly placed, straight right hand just before the midway mark of the second. Takoucht popped right to his feet after falling into a neutral corner.

Takoucht tried to hold and wrestle his way out of trouble, but Warrington dropped him again by landing a left-right combination with about 1:10 to go in the second. Takoucht again got up quickly and tried to fend off the relentless Warrington by holding him.

A right-left-right combination by Warrington prompted Williams to step in and stop the bout with Takoucht still on his feet.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.