Sean Noakes produced a “career-best performance” at York Hall to beat Jermaine Osbourne-Edwards inside the distance.

Referee Chris Jones stepped in to stop Friday night’s headline bout in the eighth of 10 scheduled rounds after Noakes had his opponent pinned in the corner and under siege.

A couple of big right-handers had helped finish Edwards off, leaving Noakes on 10-0 as he made a second successful defence of the English welterweight title with the TKO victory.

Noakes spoke afterwards about the possibility of dropping down a weight division and his manager Francis Warren believes his man is capable of competing for bigger things.

Warren, speaking to Box Nation, said: “Sean hasn’t got the years on his side like his little brother Sam but he is making up for lost time.

“The plan is to get him out a couple of times before the end of July and then a big, big fight in September or October.

“I think Jermaine brought the best out in Sean. [There were] a couple of frustrating rounds but on the whole a good performance and a good building performance which gives us a lot more confidence looking at fights in both the welterweight and super lightweight division.

“If Sean keeps building on those performances and keeps adding to his artillery and to his skillset, keeps making the weight that he does, learning the gym, doing his homework - and our job is to select the right opponent at the right time - Sean by the end of the year will be a British champion at super light or welterweight.”

His opponent was coming into the fight off the back of his first professional defeat in November. He proved a good challenge.

Warren said: “That was his career-best performance and now it’s about building and with his next opponent it’s about making sure he enhances his career, it is not just about side steps, everything has to be a positive step forward. That was a huge step forward in Sean Noakes’ career.”

Younger brother Sam (16-0) was watching ringside. He defended his British and Commonwealth lightweight titles at Wembley Arena in December. Warren manages both fighters and believes Sam is ready to step up to world level.

He said: “There are some huge, huge fights on the horizon for the young man.

“He is patient, however, we do need to see him back in the ring very soon and we may see him back in May and a big, big fight in July.

“We have hunted down people at British, European and Commonwealth level and I think Sam is beyond that now.

“In terms of the lightweight division there is nobody better placed for a world title fight than Sam Noakes.”