PHOENIX – Jamie Mitchell continues to thrive at an age when most fighters are either winding down or sticking around way too long for their own good.

The aptly nicknamed ‘Miracle’ enjoyed the first defense of her WBA bantamweight title in grand style, battering unbeaten Carly Skelly en route to a fourth-round knockout. Mitchell scored two knockdowns and had Skelly out on her feet in forcing the stoppage at 1:30 of round four in their DAZN-televised co-feature Saturday evening at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.

Las Vegas’ Mitchell used her jab to position Skelly for her right hand. Skelly managed a straight left hand to get the attention of the defending titlist, who stuck and move from the outside before permanently changing the course of the fight. Skelly was frozen in place by a right hand, with Mitchell crashing home a follow-up overhand right to send the challenger to the canvas just at the bell.

A virtual repeat of the opening frame transpired in round two. Skelly came forward was severely outgunned, as she was badly wobbled late in the round before hitting the deck in a delayed reaction knockdown. Skelly beat the count but appeared to be out on her feet, only for referee Wes Melton to allow the final two seconds of the round to play out.

Mitchell continued to bring the pain in round three, though Skelly showed plenty of heart even as she was outgunned in the trenches. Her bravery was for naught, as Mitchell unloaded with a barrage of power shots in round four. Skelly’s chin was exposed in the air as Mitchell slammed home seven unanswered punches before referee Wes Melton finally jumped in to end the contest.

Skelly falls to 4-1-1 (0KOs), coming up well short in her first title fight and U.S. debut.

Mitchell cruises to 8-0-2 (5KOs) with the win, her first back on U.S. soil after winning the title on the road. The 37-year-old champ—who overcame severe abuse as a foster child—traveled to Skelly’s hometown of Liverpool for her title win, dethroning an overweight Shannon Courtenay last October. Courtenay aims to seek her contractually-obligated rematch, though Mitchell doesn’t seem concerned.

“I’m only getting better,” Mitchell stated after the fight. “I still feel like everyone’s sleeping on my skills.”

Headlining the show, former titlist Carlos Cuadras (39-4-1, 27KOs) faces late replacement and rising contender Jesse ‘Bam’ Rodriguez (14-0, 10KOs) for the vacant WBC junior bantamweight title.

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox