Plymouth-trained fighter Dean Mills stuns Liverpool crowd by knocking out David Burke

DEAN MILLS caused a major upset on a night of shocks at Liverpool's Echo Arena televised show by knocking out former double title holder David Burke.

Cosmo Gym's Mills decked home favourite Burke with a stunning right hook in the fourth round after wobbling the ex British and Commonwealth champ in the third round of the light-welterweight contest.

The Merseyside veteran beat the count only to be sent to the canvas again when Plymouth-trained Mills (7-7-2) caught him with a powerful right to the jaw.

Mills said the sensational stoppage was the 'best result of my career' and silenced the home fans who were expecting Burke to use the four-rounder as a springboard to restarting his pro career.

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West Countryman Mills (right) also becomes the first opponent to put Burke (26-3) on the canvas, let alone knock out the 38-year-old.

The likeable and crowd-pleasing Mills said his victory had been on the cards for some time and paid tribute to the matchmaking and training by Cosmo chiefs Rocky Christian and Glyn Mitchell.

Mills told Herald Sport: "I'm over the moon and this has shown that I can mix it with the major players.

"Burke is a lot more experienced than me and also a southpaw and although this was his comeback fight, he was still expected to win the bout.

"But I was confident in my own ability and eager to prove that in my last two fights against champions like Lenny Daws and Gary Sykes, I've improved a lot.

"Beating a fighter of the quality and pedigree of Burke has made the commentators eat their words, describing me as a 'journeyman' before I did the business.

"Hopefully, now this can be my breakthrough year."

Christian, who with Mitchell was in Mills' corner, said: "It was a great performance by Dean, who has proved what an improved boxer he has become.

"The power and accuracy in his punches was exceptional and the final knock-down had Burke spark out for around five minutes. Thankfully, he recovered all right, but he took one helluva shot."

Mills' shock success was a precursor to British champ David Price's second-round stoppage by veteran American Tony Thompson, which ended the Englishman's unbeaten pro record and also cast doubts on his world championship ambitions.

Legendary boxing promoter Frank Maloney, who manages Price, added to the drama when he collapsed and had to be taken to hospital on a stretcher.