Kostya Tszyu v Sharmba Mitchell

Kostya Tszyu put Sharmba Mitchell on the deck four times on his way to retaining his IBF light-welterweight title inside three rounds at the Glendale Arena near Phoenix.

Ricky Hatton was an interested observer, as the undefeated Manchester man is next in line for a shot at Tszyu some time early next year.

Tszyu and Mitchell fought in February 2001 but Mitchell was forced to retire with a knee injury.

Mitchell had reason to be confident of revenge, as Tszyu had not fought since his win over Jesse James Leija in January last year.

Shoulder injuries had twice scuppered Tszyu’s previously arranged meetings with Mitchell. As a result, Tszyu was expected to be a bit rusty and he was cut by an accidental headbutt as Mitchell edged the first round.

But Tszyu stunned Mitchell with a hard right hand in the second round and followed up with a string of rights to put Mitchell on the canvas.

A single, straight right floored Mitchell in the opening seconds of the third round and Tszyu pummelled him on the ropes to put him down twice more before referee Raul Caiz stopped the fight at two minutes 48 seconds of the third round.