Ryan Walsh lived up to his promise the gate-crash the top of the British lightweight picture with one of most stunning performances of his career.

At 38, many had written off the Cromer man’s chances of becoming a two-weight champion, after his long reign as British featherweight king.

But Walsh proved them all wrong with a first-round destruction of home favourite Reece Mould in Sheffield on Friday, which earned him the WBA Continental Europa lightweight title.

The fight lasted just one minute and 58 seconds before referee Steve Gray stepped in after Mould hit the canvas for the third time.

Walsh had teed it all up with a stunning right hand which left Mould wobbling badly, and the following two knockdowns were academic as Walsh went for the jugular.

Walsh has made no secret of his desire to muscle in on the lightweight scene and as far as auditions go, this was as good as it gets.

So what’s next?

“I want to be part of the Riyadh Season and get paid,” he told Boxing Scene. “I’m glad I got the bonus, it’s a little bit less than my last bonus. If you’ve got any lightweights, I’m a mercenary now. I’ve got gloves, I’ll travel.

“I just wish I could fight more. That’s the top and bottom of it. I’ve been waiting to do this. My last fight was in a small dinner hall in Norwich. I’m not saying I’m better than that but if you want me to shine, put me under some big lights and I’ll shine.”

Walsh trains intensively under trainer Graham Everett and his son Joe, and has the expert eyes of twin brother Liam and older brother Michael.

“We kept looking back to my debut,” added Walsh. “My debut lasted 21 seconds. You get that version of me and anything can happen. He landed the best first shot, he jabbed me straight in the eye. I thought, ‘nice one.’

“Liam had been telling me to dictate with the jab but I thought, ‘I’m already losing the jab’. We’d talked about a counter and I think I’m quite fast. That was what changed the fight, my speed. If I just believe the results come from that. I’m lost for words to be honest. I’m not one to get tongue tied.”