Conor Benn destroys Lukas Radic with first-round KO to secure third straight professional win

CONOR BENN notched his third pro victory with an explosive stoppage of Lukas Radic.

Benn, 19, had promised to steer clear of a tear-up and let his boxing skills do the talking.

And he delivered in style in the first round, flooring the Czech with a left hook before securing the knockout with a crunching right hand.

The super-lightweight, son of former two-weight world champion Nigel, was happy with the clinical and controlled performance.

He said: “I’ve shown I can fight and it was time to take my time and start learning to box.

“It’ll blend together eventually and let’s see what it can be. I listened to my trainer — and that’s the only criticism I accept.

“Having made my debut here, The O2 is starting to feel like home. Performing in front of this crowd is unbelievable.”

The display impressed retired super-middleweight king Carl Froch, who was watching from ringside.

Froch said: “I was happy to see him take his time. It was a devastating finish but it was cool, calm and calculated.

“He was picking his shots and working around his jab. But when he knew he had his opponent where he wanted him, he took the chance.”

Meanwhile, ANTHONY OGOGO maintained his unblemished record with a rapid victory over Frane Radic.

Middleweight Ogogo, 27, bossed the first round and floored Radic with a crunching left hook just before the bell.

The Croat got back to his feet but quit on his stool at the end of the session.

Ogogo said: “Radic had never been stopped and I went in there and did it.

“I’ve got total confidence in my body and even more confidence in myself mentally.”

Ogogo has now chalked up ten victories since making his pro debut in April 2013.

The last two years of his career have been hampered by injuries but he is finally building momentum after overcoming troublesome Achilles problems and a dislocated shoulder.

Victory over Radic, 32, came hot on the heels of last month’s stoppage of Gary Cooper in Glasgow.

The Olympic bronze medallist added: “I’m punching harder than ever now because I can actually train.

“My career is going to be like on old British steam train. It’s taken a while to get going but we’ll soon be chugging and chugging away.

“Like I said in Glasgow, they’re all terracotta soldiers to me. Whoever you put in front of me, I’ll beat them.”

In contrast, DILLIAN WHYTE endured a frustrating night on his return from injury but got the job done against Ivica Bacurin.

Whyte, 28, had not boxed since undergoing shoulder surgery after being stopped by Anthony Joshua in December.

And he had to wait until the sixth round before putting away his Croatian opponent, who frustrated him throughout by holding.

A right to the body was followed by an overhand upstairs and Bacurin made no attempt to beat the count — much to Whyte’s disgust.

The Brixton heavyweight said: “It was alright but the guy didn’t come to fight.

“I got six rounds and my fitness felt good. It was about getting that confidence of throwing the shoulder again.

“My left hook wasn’t going off as much as I wanted but it is what it is.

“I worked on something different. My trainer Mark Tibbs told me to step up the tempo and hit him with combinations.

“I was looking for the big right hands in the fight, which I’m annoyed at.”