DeGale wins again

The 23-year-old Londoner came into the contest against unbeaten novice Morrison (2-0-1) aiming to make it three first-round stoppages in a row after impressing in his last two outings.

While he failed to do that, it was another accomplished performance by DeGale - who landed hard shots throughout before stepping up the assault with a series of left hooks to bring about an early finish.

DeGale, who won middleweight gold in Beijing last summer, has suffered hostility from the public since making his professional debut with a lacklustre points win in February.

But since that night in Birmingham earlier this year, the likeable southpaw has been determined to put on a show with every outing and had blasted his two subsequent opponents away in the first round.

He was greeted with more cheers than jeers here as he made his way to the ring. DeGale switched stances from the start, landing the southpaw left early on and avoiding anything in the other direction.

Two looping, powerful left hands landed solidly - before another left, followed by a body shot and a hard right hand, seriously tested Morrison's chin.

In the second round, DeGale was more measured but took a couple of straight rights down the middle. A left hook in the closing stages was perhaps DeGale's most hurtful shot of the fight so far - but again, Morrison shook it off relatively easily.

A disturbance in the crowd between rounds drew more viewers from the crowd than the actual action, and many will have missed the impressive climax early in the third.

DeGale upped the pace from the bell and when two more powerful left hooks landed, a third - and fourth - sent Morrison reeling. The Cumbrian kept his feet - but when a right and another left were landed by DeGale referee Howard Foster waved it off 45 seconds into the round.