Josh Kennedy is eyeing his first professional title fight in the new year after producing another dramatic knockout win in London on Saturday night.

The 24-year-old Folkestone bantamweight needed less than two rounds to see off Bulgaria’s Slaveya Stefanov at York Hall, forcing a fourth stoppage in as many contests.

Kennedy, who was due to fight the experienced Ghanaian Isaac Owusu, admitted he learned little from beating Stefanov, who stepped in at the last minute after Owusu pulled out with an injury.

But he insists he’s ready to take a Southern Area or English eliminator fight at the start of 2016 – or even before.

Kennedy said: "I’ve boxed for my country (as an amateur) and I’ve got 11 years’ experience so I definitely feel like I can hold my own against the best England has to offer.

"If there’s a belt vacant, there’s no reason I can’t challenge for it.

"I couldn’t have asked for a better year – four fights and four knockouts. It’s hard to get stoppages at this weight but I pride myself on my strength and my boxing skills."

Kennedy had Stefanov back-pedalling after catching him with an early right hand and he put him down later in the first round with a solid body shot.

Stefanov came back swinging wildly and they clashed heads at the start of the second.

An accidental cut could have given Kennedy problems so he let Stefanov come at him before countering with another superb body shot. This time Stefanov couldn’t beat the referee’s count and Kennedy left the ring with mixed feelings.

He said: "It still goes down as a knockout but I’m a bit disappointed.

"I had to take it otherwise I would have had to refund the people who bought tickets.

"I haven’t learned anything and it didn’t go the full six rounds. He was such an awkward opponent, he ran in circles and at one point I dropped my hands and said ‘what are you doing?’

"I am looking at the Southern Area super-bantamweight title or and English eliminator title shot in the new year but, of course, I will take any title offered to me."