Tony Bellew has set up a possible cruiserweight reunion with bitter rival Nathan Cleverly after knocking out Julio Cesar Dos Santos in Liverpool on Saturday.
As Welshman Cleverly looked on, following his own victory over Alejandro Valori on the same card, he saw the Bomber make a fast start, but Dos Santos tried to show aggression himself.
Indeed, Bellew was put under pressure after the Brazilian caught him on a number of occasions in rounds three and four, which prompted the Liverpudlian's corner to warn their boxer to be on his guard.
In the end, the 31-year-old's punching power told as he floored his opponent in the fifth and Dos Santos was unable to make the count.
Bellew's victory was overshadowed after he reached over the ropes to confront the watching Cleverly, ahead of an eagerly anticipated rematch.
Chris O'Keefe
