Cromer boxer Liam Walsh ends the debate with victory over Joe Murray

The 28-year-old ensured there would be no repeat of the complaints by his opponent, Joe Murray, when a vicious uppercut proved the end of his Manchester opponent in the fifth round at London's 02 Arena.

The two were squaring up 17 months after Walsh's majority points decision over the same opponent – a fight which left Walsh less than happy with his performance and Murray complaining that the decision should have gone in his favour.

Now the argument is over and Murray won't bother the Walsh camp again.

In truth, after the cat and mouse tactics of the opening round, Walsh was never in any serious trouble. His jab began to work well and his body punches were draining Murray's bravado.

Murray's spoiling tactics earned him a warning from the referee in the third round - any more holding and a point would be deducted, and Murray could ill afford to give away rounds.

But it never looked likely to happen as Walsh heaped the pressure on his opponent.

Murray was on the canvas in the fifth, and while referee Marcus McDonnell called it a slip, the look of bemusement on Walsh's face told its own story: Walsh had clearly caught Murray, whose legs wobbled as he got to his feet.

But in the next round it was all over: an uppercut saw Murray turn his back on Walsh and McDonnell stepped in.

'A stoppage victory was the plan so I think I have closed the book on it now with John,' said Walsh.

'The body shots got through. I think my feet were a little bit better, my jab was better, I got closer to him and cut the ring off, I didn't let him hold me for long and the ref helped in that – the ref got in early, which is good because in the first fight he was allowed to just hold and hold and it ruined the fight. My fans, who I can't thank enough as always, pay a lot of money to watch me and then you get someone holding and it spoils the fights. They want to see some action and when someone is holding a lot the refs have to stop it.'