Hackney’s super-lightweight Ohara Davies retained his WBC Silver Belt at the O2 Arena – stretching his unbeaten record to 15.

Hackney Gazette: Ohara Davies stopped Derry Mathews in the third round of their super-lightweight WBC Silver Belt championship match at The O2. Picture: NICK POTTS/PA WIREOhara Davies stopped Derry Mathews in the third round of their super-lightweight WBC Silver Belt championship match at The O2. Picture: NICK POTTS/PA WIRE (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

The former Repton Boxing Club man beat Liverpool’s Derry Mathews with a third-round TKO.

Mathews, a former British Champion and world title challenger, announced his retirement after the fight.

Both boxers started throwing tentative left jabs. But once Davies found his range, the contest suddenly came to life.

The third round was brutal for Mathews with Davies unleashing a number of hard hooks to both head and body.

But it was uppercuts that did the damage, dropping Mathews to the canvas three times in the round.

That was enough for referee Victor Loughlin to stop the fight five seconds short of the bell.

Speaking to the Gazette, Davies said: “He was a good name to have on my record and all the hard work in the gym and running around the streets of Hackney has paid off.

“To be honest I found him a lot easier than I expected.”

Stoke Newington’s heavyweight Olympian, Lawrence Okolie, has turned professional.

The 24-year-old, who reached the quarter-finals in Rio, will box at the cruiserweight level having been signed by Eddie Hearn Matchroom.

His first fight is scheduled for March 25.