JEFF SAUNDERS made the maximum impact in the shortest time at the Metro Radio Arena.

Opposing Hungarian Sandor Racz in a bout that was scheduled for four rounds, the Sedgefield man took care of business in just 2:20 of the opening

round.

Racz stood no chance and, once Saunders had inflicted an eight count there was no recovery time, the visitor hitting the canvas within a matter of seconds of his returning to the action.

The stacked card in Newcastle was lit up by Anthony Joshua who took care of Jason Gavern, and two homegrown fighters let out their own roars in winning titles via stoppages.

First Jon-Lewis Dickinson claimed the WBC International cruiserweight strap with an eighth round dismissal of Scotland’s Stephen Simmons as the Felling-based fighter rolled back the years in a vintage, confident masterclass.

Then, as the night came to a close, South Shields; Anthony Nelson claimed the vacant Commonwealth super flyweight strap against another Scot, Dundee’s Jamie Wilson.

Afterwards Jon-Lewis Dickinson, who banished his losses to McKenzie and Fry said: “That was absolutely brilliant, it was a class atmosphere and the crowd were just great, they really were.

“I just worked through it, made him miss a lot and slipped his jab. When he did get in was when he was up close and I was a little messy and let him in but I controlled it well and didn’t see any other outcome.”

After Newcastle-born Hosea Burton opened proceedings with a win, Tyneside debutant Lewis Ritson (managed by Billy Nelson) took the plaudits with an impressive display against Kristian Laight.

Hetton-le-Hole’s Jordan King needed less time than Saunders to finish his night’s work, stopping Brighton’s Iain Jackson after just 50 seconds after both fighters were involved in a good flurry of shots.

Of the excitement that surrounded the other bouts, Simon Vallily’s six round battle with Poland’s Wlodzimierz Letr was a contest that offered little. Vallily glad to get the rounds under his belt having been stifled from first to last.

The headline fight saw Joshua continue his remarkable start to his professional career by knocking out Jason Gavern inside three rounds at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle.

Gavern showed plenty of heart in getting up three times but never looked like causing what would have been a huge shock against Joshua, who next faces former world title challenger Kevin Johnson next month at London's O2 Arena.

It was not all plain sailing for the Watford heavyweight, though, who admitted afterwards that he was on occasions frustrated by Gavern's spoiling tactics.

"Jason Gavern (was a) very awkward opponent, slippy customer, he's there to make me look bad and I think he did a good job of that," Joshua told Sky Sports 2.

"At the end of the day, I've got a job to do and that's get a win. Hopefully if I can start pushing to British titles, European, step by step, these fights won't really mean anything when I'm experienced and I'm a champion."

Joshua was returning to the ring for the first time since stopping Michael Sprott in November last year, with a stress fracture of the back the reason for his lengthy absence.

He jolted his opponent with a left hook in the opening round although Gavern showed all his experience in frustrating his younger foe.

Gavern, competing in his 50th fight, did hit the mat midway through the second after a short straight left although the 37-year-old complained he had taken a blow to the back of his head.

He was on the canvas again after a brutal right hand followed by another left found its mark, but Gavern got up and defiantly raised his right hand.

He was merely delaying the inevitable, though, and a flurry early in the third had him down once more before Joshua finished the job with yet another punishing left, as Gavern (26-20-4) was this time unable to beat the count.