By Elliot Foster

SAM MAXWELL extended his undefeated ledger with his first overseas win in the paid code.

The 29-year-old faced Oszkar Fiko of Budapest in Hungary over six rounds on the undercard of Manuel Charr’s clash against Alexander Ustinov for the vacant WBA ‘regular’ world heavyweight title in Oberhausen, Germany, on Saturday.

Maxwell, who was most recently in action last month in Leeds when he took less than a round to dispatch of Gyula Tallosi at the First Direct Arena, as part of a BT Sport-aired card topped by Josh Warrington’s stoppage victory of Dennis Ceylan in a final eliminator for the IBF featherweight world title, was screened exclusively live on BoxNation in the UK as he dominated throughout.

There was a knockdown in the opener, where Fiko fell face-first to the canvas after a big right hand from Maxwell, but ‘Super Sam’ failed to get another first round finish after the visitor voluntarily removed the mouthpiece to buy himself some more valuable seconds.

The long right hand worked again in the third, forcing Fiko onto unsteady legs once more, before a stoppage was called by the referee to rubber-stamp Maxwell’s best performance to date.

A halt was called to the action after a crippling shot left Fiko writhing in pain, meaning that the impressive former Team GB man kept up his flawless record.

“This was the biggest card I’d been on to date,” he told Boxing Scene. “It was a good performance and I got the win. But as we move in to 2018, it’s about getting my name out there and getting the titles that we know I’m capable of picking up.

“Talent-wise, I believe I’m there now. I’m learning every day in the gym with George [Vaughan], Joe McNally and Derry [Mathews], but the timing has got to be right and I’ve got to get the experience and the rounds before I can step up to that level.

“I’m not going to start calling out names and shouting my mouth off now, but after I’ve built up the experience that the coaches feel I need then I’ve got to aim for whoever the champions are at my weight.”

“I’ve got the backing of MTK Global and Frank Warren and together with my ability and the word and guidance of my coaches I believe that I’ll have titles by the end of next year.”

Meanwhile, Ryan Hatton moved to 2-0, both early, with a crushing stoppage over Atilla Orsis.

The 21-year-old showed flawless shot selection as he made a statement on TV, despite still being in the embryonic stages of his pro career.