Battersea boxer Bradley Skeete promised to shut up his critics, and he did just that with a ruthless display at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday.

The 26-year-old was too much for the vastly experienced Italian Tobia Giuseppe Loriga as he successfully defend his WBA Inter-continental welterweight title with a seventh round stoppage.

In that seventh round Loriga kept on absorbing the shots without any response, causing referee Terry O’Connor to stop the contest in 1.34.

Skeete, now unbeaten in 16 pro fights, said: “Before the fight I said I was going to prove a few of the critics wrong. Well I’m glad I shut them up.

“I know when I get back on the internet I’ll still have more, people calling me up to tell me I cannot punch but I’ve just proved myself tonight.

“I was a bit eager but I wanted to put on a good performance. I wanted to shine and wanted to prove what I’m all about.

“And I stopped a guy who’s been nine rounds with Julio Cesar Chavez Jnr and who’s mixed with the high and world level and he’s been stopped three times out of 32 fights – not bad for someone who can’t punch.”

With Birmingham’s talented Frankie Gavin set to relinquish his British mantle to pursue the European crown later in the year, it could open to door for Skeete to contest for the vacant title.

“People are talking about me in line for the British title and you don’t get that if you are not in that level,” Skeete added.