• Tony Bellew v Danny McIntosh

Classy Bellew blows away McIntosh in five

Tony Bellew was too fast and too accurate for Danny McIntosh © PA Photos

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Tony Bellew produced a clinical performance to completely outclass Danny McIntosh and successfully defend his British light-heavyweight title at Liverpool's Echo Arena.

Bellew, who suffered his first professional defeat at the hands of WBO world champion Nathan Cleverly in October, showed he belongs at a higher level after dismantling former European champion McIntosh in front of his home fans.

Bellew produced the better work in the first, regularly pumping out his jab to assert himself in the middle of the ring. Whenever McIntosh managed to force the champion back, good footwork and crisp counter-punching enabled Bellew to quickly re-establish his early dominance.

While Bellew was showing a cool head, McIntosh was continuing to come forward and completely disregard his defences. The tactic never looked like working, Bellew picking him off with ease and beginning to grow in confidence as the bout unfolded. Blood soon fell from the nose of McIntosh in the second, signalling the carelessness with which he was approaching his defence.

Bellew had him rocked at the end of the second, lethal combinations knocking the gumshield from his mouth before the bell came to McIntosh's rescue. Such was Bellew's accuracy, McIntosh rarely got any rest bite and the cumulative effect of the punches was soon evident as he was sent to the canvas at the end of the fourth.

Again, the bell helped him survive this onslaught, but it was not long before Bellew delivered the knockout blow. After an accidental clash of heads, a big overright caught Mcintosh flush and the referee declared the fight over without even bothering to give the floored McIntosh a chance to recover.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.