Joe Fitzpatrick kicked off the MHD Promotions ‘Elimination’ card at the Europa Hotel in Belfast tonight with a bang.

The Divis lightweight took on Ruslans Berdimuradovs of Latvia in a four round bout, but the youngster didn’t need the full 12 minutes in what was an explosive display on the swanky dinner show.

Indeed Fitzpatrick need less than a minute to dispatch his Baltic foe, flooring Berdimuradovs with his first power shot. The Latvian rose at the count of nine and was almost willed on to continue by a frustrated Fitzpatrick, but shook his head and the bout was halted by the referee after just 47 seconds.

With the win, soutpaw Fitzpatrick extends his perfect knockout streak to four fight, while the dazed Berdimuradovs falls to 8(7)-6(5). Promoter Mark Dunlop would take to the ring after the bout to apologise for Berdimuradovs performance, labelling it “a disgrace.”

The Irish title-chasing 19 year old will now look to make the step up in rounds and secure title eligibility before the year is out.