Maidstone welterweight George Hennon wins by stoppage for first time in his career against Bulgaria's Teodor Nikolov at York Hall

Welterweight George Hennon stole the show at the York Hall on Saturday with a first-ever career stoppage.

The Maidstone fighter stopped Bulgarian Teodor Nikolov in the fourth of a scheduled six-round bout in front of a raucous support.

Hennon was up against a mobile opponent as the Kent fighter looked to cut off the ring.

Nikolov was competent and clever and threw shots at the right time to upset Hennon’s rhythm. However in round three an uppercut, followed by a body shot, resulted in Nikolov going down on one knee, but he was back on his feet again and was saved by the bell.

In the fourth a good body shot landed from Hennon in his home corner looked like it hurt the Bulgarian, but he battled on until Hennon, 28, lined up a long-ranging straight right hand to the chin of Nikolov that downed him for the second time.

Hennon said: “He took a bit of working out. To be fair, the ref was good because in his last fights all he wanted to do was hold and, every time he tried to hold, the ref would stop him.

“His punches didn’t hurt too much because he was never actually set to throw that right hand, it was always a looping hook on the way out, but yeah, [he] just took a little bit of breaking down.”

Hennon then praised his huge following who raised the roof.

“I would just like to say how unreal my support is - from the team I have around me in the dressing room to everyone who buys tickets in support,” he said.

“[There is] unbelievable noise every time I make that ring walk, singing the whole way through, [it is] just so overwhelming.

“I’m looking for a big 2023 with a title fight early to midway through the year.”

His record stands at 7-1 having won three fights in five months when being trained by George O’Mahoney in Aylesford.