Kevin Mitchell has moved in line for an opportunity to fight for the WBC lightweight title after recording an impressive victory over Daniel Estrada.
The 30-year-old was easily defeated by Ricky Burns for the WBO strap in 2012, but, after putting together a string of morale-boosting wins, the British fighter produced the best performance of his career to stop the Mexican in the eighth round.
After taking the opening two rounds, Mitchell floored the former world title challenger with a short right in the third and came close to bringing a halt to the contest in the early stages.
Estrada battled on, but the fight was still one-way traffic as it passed the middle rounds and the referee finally saved Estrada from any more punishment when he failed to respond to a flurry of punches from Mitchell.
Promoter Eddie Hearn will now attempt to set up a showdown with Jorge Linares later in 2015.
