Amir Khan made an emphatic statement in the first defence of his WBA light-welterweight title in Newcastle as he clattered previously unbeaten Dmitry Salita to a first-round defeat.
The 22-year-old's impressive win came less than a year after a shocking first-round loss to Breidis Prescott which raised questions over his ability at the top level.
New Yorker Salita came into the fight with a record of 30 wins and a draw and had been expected to provide one of the toughest tests of his credentials.
But Salita was knocked to the canvas by Khan's opening combination and, after he rose unsteadily, he was knocked back onto one knee by Khan's follow-up flurry.
Salita was up again but the end was in sight and when Khan set up another assault with the right hand and had Salita unsteadily against the ropes, referee Luis Pabon stepped in after just one minute and 16 seconds.
Having teamed up with veteran American trainer Freddie Roach, Khan said: "It was a blessing in disguise what happened against Prescott. I got beat and came back stronger. I'm getting stronger and quicker."
Khan's win catapulted him across the Atlantic where he would make his American debut in his subsequent fight with a stoppage win over Paulie Malignaggi.
