• Heavyweight

Fury stops Rogan to claim Irish crown

Tyson Fury was too strong for Martin Rogan © PA Photos

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Tyson Fury claimed the vacant Irish heavyweight championship with a fifth-round stoppage of Martin Rogan.

Fury came in as the strong favourite, but he was tested to the full before imposing himself on the fight and putting Rogan down twice before the Northern Irishman's corner called a halt to the fight.

Fury is a boxer of huge potential and he is not short of confidence, which he demonstrated by winking at his opponent in the stare down.

And he raised eyebrows by coming out as a southpaw. The move did not faze Rogan who made a bright start and landed some crisp shots.

Fury, who was circumspect early on, stepped up his workrate in the third and a sharp left put Rogan on the canvas.

Rogan was up quick, but the wind was taken from his sails and Fury dominated the centre of the ring.

The fifth saw Rogan forced back and some strong work and a left hook to the body forced him down and prompted his corner to call off the contest - taking Fury's unbeaten record to 18 fights.

"I am just practising a few things," Fury told Channel 5 of his decision to fight southpaw. "I am a world-class heavyweight and want to try and few thinghs. I am ambidextrous and can hit as hard with my left as my right. We had a gameplan for Martin Rogan and had a plan we felt could work."

Paying tribute to his opponent, Fury said: "Martin Rogan is an absoluite warrior, as he could not land a blow on me but kept coming at me for five rounds."

Chris Eubank Jr continued his progression up the professional ranks with a fourth-round stoppage of Paul Allison.

Unbeaten in two previous fights, Eubank was given a test by Allison but when the finish came it came in style as some blistering hand speed from Eubank backed his opponent into the corner and the referee stopped the contest following a left hook that snapped the head back.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.