Billy Joe Saunders blasted out Tony Hill in the first round to claim the vacant Commonwealth middleweight title at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday night.

In the first bout at Royal Albert Hall since 1999, Saunders required just 30 seconds to land a stunning punch on Hill, forcing the referee to call a premature halt to proceedings.

Billy Joe Saunders comfortably made weight today for his vacant Commonwealth middleweight championship fight on Saturday night at the Royal Albert Hall.

Saunders weighed-in at 11st 5 1/2lb for the 11st 6lb contest while the same couldn’t be said of his opponent Tony Hill who came in at 11st 6lb on his second attempt after he was 1/2lb over.

Billy Joe Saunders and Tony Hill will now challenge for the vacant Commonwealth middleweight title on the big Royal Albert Hall show on April 28, live on BoxNation (Sky 456, Virgin 546).

Saunders vs Hill and Sam Webb’s eliminator for the British light-middleweight title against Matthew Hall headlines the first night of professional championship boxing to be held at the iconic London venue in nearly 13 years.

Matthew Hall is promising a 'bloody and brutal' battle against Sam Webb in their British light-middleweight title eliminator on April 28 at the Royal Albert Hall, live on BoxNation (Sky 456, Virgin 546).

The Manchester puncher takes on the former British champion at the historic venue in a joint co-feature with Billy Joe Saunders' English middleweight title challenge against Tony Hill.

World champion Nathan Cleverly has been forced to withdraw from his WBO light-heavyweight title defence against Robin Krasniqi due to a viral infection.

The unbeaten Welsh star was scheduled to face Kosovan Krasniqi on April 28 at the Royal Albert Hall in London, but has been unable to train for his fourth title defence.

Southampton middleweight Tony Hill believes he can pull off a stunning upset against Billy Joe Saunders at the Royal Albert Hall on Saturday, April 28.

Hill challenges for Saunders' Southern Area title on the undercard of Nathan Cleverly's WBO world light-heavyweight title defence against Robin Krasniqi, live and exclusive on BoxNation (Sky 456, Virgin 546).

Promoter Frank Warren yesterday announced the first world title show at the Royal Albert Hall in over a decade with British star Nathan Cleverly headlining the legendary venue on Saturday, 28 April.

Unbeaten Cleverly, who defeated American Tommy Karpency last month, will make the fourth defence of his WBO light-heavyweight title against the number four ranked Robin Krasniqi, subject to confirmation from the WBO.