Britain's Amir Khan has beaten Mexico's Marco Antonio Barrera in Manchester to move a step closer to a shot at the lightweight world title.
Veteran Barrera, the former seven-times world champion at three different weights, was cut in a first-round clash of heads and the ringside doctor stopped the bout four rounds later.
Khan, the 2004 Olympic silver-medallist, dominated the contest, beating his 35-year-old opponent to the punch and displaying a much-improved defence since his shock defeat by Breidis Prescott six months ago.
The 22-year-old Khan is now in line for a title fight against Mexico's WBA lightweight champion Juan Manuel Marquez.
Earlier on the same bill, Briton's Nicky Cook lost his WBO super-featherweight title when he was knocked out in the fourth round by Puerto Rico's Roman Martinez.
