Lockett remains on course for a WBU title shot

The Cwmbran middleweight won a controversial points decision over Monaghan in June last year.

This time he won the first two rounds with some composed boxing before stopping the Midlands-Irishman.

A left-hook had Monaghan rocking before the referee stepped in after a furious Lockett assault, though Monaghan claims he could have continued.

I put in about 20 unanswered shots, what more can I do? Gary Lockett

Lockett, 27, remains on course for a shot at the WBU middleweight title.

"I want Anthony Farnell or Eugenio Monteiro," said Lockett after the fight.

"I've suffered in this game, but have brought myself back and deserve a title shot.

"I thought I boxed well for the first time in quite a while."

The Welshman had no time for Monaghan's claims that the fight had been stopped prematurely.

"You saw him wobble and his legs went," said Lockett.

There's no way it should have been stopped Michael Monaghan

"Then I put in about 20 unanswered shots, what more can I do?"

Monaghan was furious and said that the fight had been going according to his game plan.

"I got caught by a couple of decent shots but knew I had to weather the early storm," said Monaghan.

"There's no way it should have been stopped, you could see by my reaction I wasn't in real trouble.

"I wasn't taking many shots, I had my faculties about me and things were going to plan."