Liverpool’s Tony Bellew finally got the fairy tale ending he dreamed of when he knocked out Ilunga Makabu in the third round to claim the WBC cruiserweight world title.

The opening round was a cagey affair, Bellew dominated but towards the end of the round Makabu sent Bellew to the canvas with a left hook.

Unhurt Bellew took the next round and in the third he backed his opponent up on to the ropes where he unleashed a barrage of punches which knocked his opponent out cold.

It was a spectacular finish to Bellew’s third world title challenger in front of a home crowd at Goodison park.

On the undercard Super-Middleweight Callum Smith extended his unbeaten run with a sixth round stoppage of Cesar Hernan Reynoso. It was a dominate performance by Smith who dropped his opponent three times, but the determined Reynoso made Smith work for the win and this will be invaluable experience for the young fighter from Liverpool.

On the previous evening, Scotland’s Ricky Burns became a three weight world champion with a eighth round stoppage of the thoroughly outclassed Michele Di Rocco for the vacant WBA Super- Lightweight Title at the SSE Hydro in Glasgow.

Other results;

David Price TKO 2 Vaclav Pejsar; Heavyweight

Stephen Smith TKO 7 Daniel Brizuela; Super-Featherweight

Connor Benn W4 Luke Keleher; Super-Lightweight