Preston ace Fitzgerald has pure punching power

That is the view of his trainer Karl Ince, who was once again mightily impressed with his man’s performance on Saturday at the Liverpool Arena.

The Preston ace improved his professional record to two wins out of two with a second round stoppage victory over Robert Studzinski.

Although the 39-year-old Welshman had only won three of 30 bouts prior to last weekend’s fight, he is known as somebody who can last the distance having only been stopped four times previously in his career.

However, Fitzgerald wasted no time in adding his name to the list of men who have knocked him out.

From the opening bell, the former Larches and Savick Amateur Boxing Club had his opponent rocking courtesy of a barrage of body shots.

The bout was over in the second round as Fitzgerald landed with huge shots to the head and body, forcing referee Phil Edwards to step in and end the contest.

“Studzinski is a hard lad and not many people have stopped him,” said Ince.

“We were expecting a tough fight and even thought we were going to have to go the whole four rounds.

“To be honest, we want to get the rounds in Scott as a professional, so we would have taken a points victory.

“But we were happy to get the stoppage. It just shows what ability Scott has.

“He got him with some good body shots in the first round and then just overwhelmed and overpowered him in the second round.

“I think everybody is impressed with Scott and the way he has started his pro career.

“A lot of people in the boxing community can see what potential he has.”

Fitzgerald’s next outing is likely to be on the undercard of Tony Bellew’s potential blockbuster WBC world cruiserweight title fight against Ilunga Makabu.

A staunch Evertonian, Bellew is hoping the bout will be staged at Goodison Park in June for what will be a huge night of boxing.

“That will be a great show for Scott to be involved in,” said Ince.

“Eddie Hearn seems to want him on these big shows, which is fantastic.