A knockout return for Frankie Gavin

Birmingham's Frankie Gavin made a knockout return to the ring with a third round stoppage over Kevin McIntyre at the Motorpoint Arena in Cardiff.

A crunching body shot left the former British champion unable to answer referee Wynford Jones' count, with 38 seconds of the session left.

It was Gavin's first fight in seven months and the first with Tom Chaney, his former amateur trainer, in his corner as a pro.

Britain's only world amateur champion started at pace in their welterweight contest, which had been due to last eight rounds.

The 26-year-old, instead, got the job done early by setting himself up with another body shot, leaving McIntyre's high guard wide open.

An uppercut to the chin left him prone to the finisher, a strong right hand to the centre of the stomach that took all of the wind out of McIntyre.

The impressive win puts Gavin back in business and he believes his display shows that the 'Funtime' is over for his opponents.

He said: "I'm back in the ring where I belong to be. This is the new Frankie Gavin. I'm punching harder at the weight.

"There's no 'Funtime' in 'Funtime' Frankie anymore."

Elsewhere on the bill, Enzo Maccarinelli warmed up for his British title shot at Wolverhampton Civic Hall next month with a win over Ciaran Healy.

Maccarinelli sent a message to champion Shane McPhilbin by finishing the Northern Irishman off with only eight seconds of the second round left.

Healy's corner threw the towel in after their fighter was floored twice by the former WBO world and European cruiserweight champion.

Maccarinelli and McPhilbin clash at the top of the bill at the Civic on Friday March 23, live on BoxNation.