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DeGale sounds out Groves after demolishing Dilks

James DeGale was too good for Dilks

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James DeGale set his sights on an all-British showdown with George Groves after the Olympic champion stopped Carl Dilks in the first round of their super-middleweight eliminator.

DeGale put the embarrassment of failing to make the weight at the first attempt behind him with a first-round stoppage after showering his opponent with a barrage of punches. Dilks was cut above the right eye after just a minute, and soon his nose was also bleeding as DeGale was relentless in his attack.

A heavy left sent Dilks reeling back against the ropes, and referee Howard Foster soon stepped in to end his suffering.

"I want to fight again as soon as I can and December 11 sounds great to me - as long as Groves is in the opposite corner," DeGale said. "He has been shooting off his mouth but let's see now if he wants to do his talking in the ring with me coming at him.

"I was surprised the referee stopped my bout so quickly but looking at the video he was right because if it had gone another round or two I would have seriously hurt Dilks."

Later in the ring at the Magnificent Seven showdown in Birmingham, Enzo Maccarinelli surrendered his European cruiserweight title after he was knocked out cold by Alexander Frenkel. Maccarinelli was sent crashing to the ground in the seventh round, his head thudding on the canvas after a tight affair.

Enzo Maccarinelli stayed down for five minutes after being knocked out by Alexander Frenkel

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After an edgy start, Maccarinelli settled into his rhythm and used his jab to good effect, but Frenkel was responding with equally useful shots. Frenkel caught Maccarinelli in the third, but the Welshman responded with a heavy right in the fourth. He looked to be heading for the win after dominating the sixth, but a surprise left hook from Frenkel sent him crashing sickeningly to the ground.

Referee Erkki Meronen seemed unconcerned and allowed the fight to continue, despite the fact that Maccarinelli was still reeling, and a combination from Frenkel applied the final blow. Despite claiming the European crown, Frenkel refused to celebrate and showed genuine concern for his opponent who was in the hands of paramedics. It could signal the end of the former world cruiserweight champion's career.

Derek Chisora added the Commonwealth belt to his British heavyweight title with a ninth-round knockout of Sam Sexton. Chisora dictated the pace of the fight and, although Sexton made inroads in the fourth and eighth rounds, Chisora always looked in control.

A flurry of shots in the ninth forced Sexton back onto the ropes and referee Howard was forced to step in as Chisora sealed an impressive win and set his sights on a European title.

Nathan Cleverly maintained his unbeaten record after wearing down his German opponent Karo Murat in their WBO light-heavyweight eliminator. In the battle of the unbeaten light-heavyweights, it was Cleverly who kept the undefeated tag after attacking from the outset. He continued his march towards a shot at the world title with a dominant performance for nine rounds until the ringside doctor called time on the fight ahead of the tenth.

Reigning British welterweight champion Kell Brook staked his claim for a world title shot with a win over Michael Jennings. Brook claimed his 23rd straight career victory after a cut to Jennings' left eye brought an end to proceedings in the fifth.

And Matthew Macklin was far from impressive as he stopped Shalva Jomardashvili after five rounds. Macklin needed a good combination from his opponent to wake him up, after which he pressed forward to force Jomardashvili's corner to end matters before the start of the sixth.

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