STRETFORD middleweight Bradley Rea is eyeing an English title shot later this year after his latest explosive victory.

The 24-year-old stopped Irishman Craig McCarthy inside two minutes on the undercard of the huge Amir Khan-Kell Brook bill at Manchester’s AO Arena on Saturday.

And after extending his unblemished professional record to 12 wins from 12 bouts, Rea admitted he is aiming for a title shot in 2022.

However, along with trainer Ricky Hatton, he believes his career is on the right path and that time is on his side.

The fighter nicknamed ‘Sting’ Rea told boxing-social.com after his latest victory: “I am really happy with my performance

“That stoppage was taken right out of the gym and put into the fight.

“It was stuff we had been working on for the past few weeks and I was so happy I could apply that in the fight. The shot was a tactic and something we had been practising.

“I am over the moon but it’s back to the drawing board now - I want to get straight back in there.

“I am still only young but I feel the team and myself are progressing nicely

“We are not fighting journeymen, we are stepping up nicely but we are not in a rush to get into the big fights.

“I have time on my side and I think wer have picked the right fights at the right time to progress.

“I do want a title by the end of this year.

“A couple more rounds under my belt and I think I will be ready for those longer-distance fights.

“The middleweight division is stacked and there are some exciting fights there and I want to get involved.

“It doesn’t matter who it is, for me it is about the belts.

“The English title is the goal so whoever has that belt when I reach that point, I will take them on.”