Hatton had Stewart in trouble from the start

Hatton had been desperate to record a convincing victory after failing to impress in his last two fights.

And he floored Stewart twice in the very first round at the MEN Arena.

A left hook stopped the contest in the fifth to make Hatton the leading contender for an IBF title fight with Kostya Tszyu or Sharmba Mitchell.

Stewart had never previously been stopped, and lasted all 12 rounds in his defeat against Mitchell in April.

But Hatton admitted after the fight that he had been surprised the American lasted so long after taking some heavy punishment in the first round.

A left to Stewart's ribs dumped the challenger on to the canvas for the first time, and he did well to clamber up from an eight count.

Hatton then caught him with a straight right to knock him down again, but Stewart made it through to the bell.

Two clubbing lefts from Hatton rocked him again in the second, and he responded briefly with a fine left hook of his own at the beginning of the third.

Stewart was hurt again by a hook in the fourth round and a follow-up straight left weakened him further.

The Delaware fighter was finally undone by a sweeping left in the fifth, prompting referee Dave Parris to end the contest.