Tyrone McKenna booked his place in the semi-finals of the Golden Contract Super-Lightweights on Friday night with a convincing points win over Mikey Sakyi.
Despite being stung by a body shot in he second round, WBC International champion McKenna (20-1-1, 6 KOs) dominated the bout at York Hall.
It keeps the 29-year-old on course for the main prize of a lucrative two-year, five-fight deal that guarantees six-figure purses for every bout.
"I enjoyed it. I think it is the first fight I've ever had without a cut," McKenna told Sky Sports.
"I stuck to the instructions and kept him at range for most of the team. he is very strong and slick but I think I controlled it.
"I'm usually in a war, but today I boxed and kept him at range. He is very heavy handed.
"He caught me in the second. Was it noticeable? It was a lovely body shot. I didn't want to go down as it would give him momentum.
"I could have gone down, but I didn't. Us Irish are made of steel."
McKenna outworked Sakyi in the opening round, applying pressure on the front foot.
Sakyi responded in the second and had McKenna in trouble after connecting with a inch-perfect left hook under the ribcage of the Belfast fighter.
McKenna recovered and enjoyed a solid third round, his punishing jab and straight lefts forcing blood to pour from Sakyi's nose.
The Lenadoon fighter controlled the next three rounds, using his jab and dictating the pace from distance.
The fight followed the same template in the seventh, McKenna staying out of trouble and thwarting any pressure Sakyi tried to apply.
McKenna's pace dipped slightly in the eighth but he could afford a breather given the lead he had.
Sakyi tried to muster a response in the ninth but it was McKenna who landed the cleaner shots, and the Belfast man was comfortable in the final round as he eased to victory.
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