Jawaid Khaliq's latest victim was left fuming by the early stoppage of their fight in Glasgow.

The Bradford-trained Khaliq claimed his 17th win in 19 outings with victory after 65 seconds of round three against American Luther Smith.

The IBO welterweight champion comfortably saw off the challenge of the Washington DC opponent, who is managed by Sugar Ray Leonard and is the chief sparring partner of Oscar de la Hoya.

But Smith was livid when the referee stepped in quickly after he was knocked down by two swift right-handers.

The official was quick to wave it off as Smith staggered backwards against the ropes, giving him no chance to rise to his feet.

Smith, a late replacement for Pole Piotr Bartnicki, said: "I only got the call 48 hours before the fight - and I've come here to fight not quit like that. Give me a chance to keep fighting."

But Khaliq felt the referee's ruling at the Bellahouston Sports Centre was spot on.

He said: "I think he was hurt and he was going. If the referee had let it go I'd have hurt him anyway.

"I wouldn't have minded it going a bit longer, though. I was taking my time and trying to get the rounds in.

"I didn't know what style he was and was just having a good look at him. But as soon as I hurt him I thought "let's take him out".

"I didn't realise he was Oscar de la Hoya's sparring partner until I heard the commentator. That was a bit scary but it didn't worry me, I was always quite confident.

"This year has been brilliant for me and I'm improving all the time. Hopefully people are getting to notice me now and big fights will happen."

Khaliq's manager Tommy Gilmour confirmed the next fight will be a defence of his world crown, probably in February.

l Brian Carr's philosophy "if you don't succeed, try, try again" paid off on the same Glasgow bill when the gritty Scot won the vacant Commonwealth super bantamweight title.

The 32-year-old Moodiesburn battler's heroic 12-round display against Misheck Kondwai, from Zimbabwe, was rewarded with a 115-114 points decision.

He said: "Everybody said this was a make-or-break fight for me, but I seem to remember hearing the same words before I lost to Cassius Baloyi for the WBU version and Nedal Hussein for this title.

"If I didn't think I had it in me I would have called it a day long ago. Now I want to make a quick defence and earn some money as champion."

Carr's unflagging determination is highlighted by the fact he twice failed in bids for the British crown in a career spread over seven years.

Kondwai had never fought outside his home country but looked a good traveller.