By Elliot Foster

Luke Campbell is one step closer to fighting for the world title after a retirement victory over Darleys Perez.

The pair clashed in an eliminator for the WBA lightweight title, exclusively live on Sky Sports Box Office.

Campbell, the WBC Silver king in the 135-pound division, struggled in parts at Wembley Stadium to negate the awkward style of his former world champion counterpart from Colombia.

But Perez, who looked to be ahead on the cards at the time of his withdrawal, was pulled out by his corner midway through round nine, citing an arm injury.

“He's a good fighter, so I had to be patient,” Campbell –– who has already headlined two outdoor events and was tonight fighting Perez on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s world heavyweight title unification showdown against Wladimir Klitschko –– told Sky Sports afterwards. “But I wanted the rounds and wanted to show what I'm working on. There were a couple of times when I felt I could've got him out of there.

"I got the win, though, and that's the main thing."

Jorge Linares, the WBA champion, was ringside to watch the fight and afterwards Campbell’s promoter Eddie Hearn said that the fight between the 29-year-old Hull man and Golden Boy-promoted sensation Linares is one high on their list.

He said: “We've got to find a way to beat him! I think Campbell has a great style to have a fight with Linares.

“We will speak to Golden Boy and see if we can get that made next.”

Katie Taylor outlined her credential as a world class professional and will now look to fight for the world title.

The undefeated Bray star, who is now 5-0 with three early, was pretty dominant against the previously undefeated Nina Meinke of Germany, exclusively live on Sky Sports Box Office.

The pair clashed on the undercard of Anthony Joshua’s world heavyweight title unification showdown against Wladimir Klitschko, with the vacant WBA Inter-Continental lightweight title at stake, at Wembley Stadium.

Taylor went through the motions against Meinke, who was confident ahead of the fight, especially in the public workouts during fight week, before stopping her inside seven rounds after referee Howard Foster called a halt to proceedings.

She will now be hoping that the first title, after another outing in June or July, will be the perfect springboard to a potential world title showdown in Dublin towards the end of the year.

In defeat, Meinke slips to 5-1 (2 KOs).