NO Scot has ever contested the British heavyweight boxing title, but that statistic may be about to change in the not too distant future after it emerged yesterday that Gary Cornish will return to the ring early in the new year in a meaningful bout.

Manager/promoter Tommy Gilmour announced that Cornish signed a new three-year contract with him prior to racking up his 17th win at the weekend, when he stopped veteran Croatian Ivica Perkovic at London's Copper Box Arena.

"I am not sure exactly what title Gary will fight for, but it will definitely be a major championship," said Gilmour yesterday. "The heavyweight scene in Britain is opening up and although he is still learning, Gary is ready to move up to a new level."

Cornish destroyed Perkovic, forcing the referee to stop the fight with 10 seconds of the third round remaining.

The bout had been scheduled for six rounds but, using his jab to great effect, Cornish landed several big shots to Perkovic's ribs to hasten a premature end and Gilmour enthused: "It was an excellent performance against a tough guy who has been in against quality opponents."

Tony Bellew failed to wrestle the World Boxing Council light-heavyweight title from Canada's Adonis Stevenson in Quebec City on Saturday night.

The fight was stopped in the sixth-round as the 36-year-old Canadian's punches proved too powerful for the Englishman.

A huge left-hand knocked Bellew off his feet, and the fight was stopped when the Liverpudlian was boxed into a corner moments later.

Dereck Chisora defeated Ondrej Pala with a third-round stoppage on Saturday at the Copper Box in London.

The referee stepped in after the Briton had forced his Czech opponent to turn his back with a succession of fierce blows.

The victory took Chisora's record to 19 wins from 23 fights and ensured he defended his World Boxing Organization International title and took the World Boxing Association belt.