BOLTON boxer Osman Aslam believes his first-round knockout victory against Bulgarian Georgi Georgiev is an indication of what is to come in 2017.

The Halliwell bantamweight, who turned 23 on Monday, stopped his opponent inside the first of eight scheduled rounds at the Bowlers Exhibition Centre in Manchester to extend his unblemished professional record to nine wins from nine bouts, including four knockouts.

And after the quickfire triumph, Aslam was keen to stress the role of manager Asif Vali and coach at Elite gym Alex Matvienko as he looks to a possible title fight this year.

Aslam told The Bolton News: "I felt great knowing I was the main event – that really excited me and I knew I had to show my skills and also make a big statement.

"My opponent's record showed he was dangerous – he's caused huge upsets and beaten someone 6-0.

"He had also been in with Eddie Hearn's fighter Charlie Edwards.

"The fact I put him away in the first round tells you something.

"My jab was the main punch of the night – I think I only threw my right hand two or three times.

"Whoever has seen my fight thinks it was my body shots but the jab is the foundation.

"The win was a great feeling.

"I want to thank my manager Asif Vali, who is doing great things for me and we are definitely going in the right direction.

"I also have to thank my coach Alex Matvienko, who has transformed me as a fighter, my strength coach Tom McNeil and the rest of the coaches at the Elite boxing gym who helped me to prepare."

Aslam revealed the fight nearly did not go ahead due to suffering from a fever ahead of the event.

But he battled on and is now eyeing a ring return in April.

He added: "Not many people knew this but I had a fever the whole week before the fight and it was nearly called off.

"It's one of those things you just have to accept and move on.

"There is no such thing as a perfect training camp, it's how you adapt to the occasion.

"But I came through okay and will now look to get back training this week.

"I was given a date straight after my fight which was in April but that's up to my management.

"We will see what happens but I will, be back in the gym getting ready."