TASIF Khan enjoyed a successful “homecoming” to defend his WBU world super flyweight crown in Bradford.

Khan, from Girlington, claimed his 18th win in 21 pro fights when he stopped Mexican Juan Lopez Martinez in five rounds at St George’s Hall.

It was Khan’s eighth successive early finish – and the second time he had seen off Martinez, a replacement for advertised opponent Luis Alberto Rios.

Having made short work of Ghana’s Asamoah Wilson to claim the belt in Nigeria in December, Khan was in no mood to let it slip in front of his home crowd.

The first round was a tight one as the pair tested each other out with jabs and combinations before Khan stepped up the pace in the second.

Going to work on the body, he found the Mexican a tough nut to crack with Martinez provocatively motioning Khan towards him by dropping his guard.

The home fighter needed no second invitation and began to unload with some big left hooks, which he continued into the third round as the contest continued to heat up.

Martinez tried to go on the offensive in the fourth but Khan played it smart to avoid his attacks before countering with shots to the body and head.

One landed to send Martinez down two minutes into the round but the Mexican was quickly back on his feet – only to be dumped back on the canvas 30 seconds from the end after another juddering hook to the body.

Martinez absorbed a late barrage to make it to the bell but Khan, who had stopped him in six in their previous encounter, could sense blood.

He seized centre ring from the start of the fifth and focused on the Mexican’s body. Martinez defended frantically but had no answer to another ripping hook.

He went down for a third time and referee Arno Pokrandt decided enough was enough and waved it off just 29 seconds in.