Brodie inches closer to Hamed

Dunne performed impressively throughout

Manchester's Michael Brodie needed all his grit and determination to outpoint tough Argentine Pastor Maurin in London.

Brodie was stunned in the fourth, floored in the 10th and suffered severe damage arond his right eye.

But he rallied after each crisis and became the first man to floor Maurin with a perfect right hand in the seventh.

Brodie is being lined up for a possible autumn showdown with Naseem Hamed, who fights Manuel Calvo later this evening.

All three judges gave him the decision by wide margins and Brodie praised his wife for giving him the courage to outduel the tough Maurin.

Earlier, Liverpool's Colin Dunne produced an impressive display to beat Wayne Rigby in a gruelling bout at the London Arena.

Dunne, holder of the lightly regarded World Boxing Union lightweight title, had been poor against Martin Jacobs in his last fight, but this performance was far superior.

He controlled the action throughout against Rigby, who earned his reputation with two intense battles against Michael Ayers.

Rigby managed to register two knockdowns over Dunne, although both appeared to be the result of a slippery canvas.

But there was no doubt about the knockdown that Rigby suffered, caused by a huge right hand which sent him crashing to the canvas.

But by the end of the 10th round, it was clear Rigby had nothing left to offer and his corner pulled him out.

Dunne's record improves to 37 wins, one defeat with 26 knockouts. Rigby falls to 20 wins, eight defeats with nine wins by knockout.