Chris Eubank Jr. had been due to headline the event but two opponents fell through in quick succession, leaving the 147lbs pair to take over as the headline fight.

The 33-year-old Russian champion stopped his British opponent in the second round, with Taylor on the back foot as early as the first, when he had to take a knee after a fierce right-hander. 

Taylor, 30, was able to continue as he attempted to get the upper hand with his own aggression, but a barrage of blows from Avanesyan meant that the ref intervened to stop the fight in the second round.

Avanesyan is a former WBA champion, having lost the belt to Lamont Peterson in 2017, and his trainer Carl Greaves believes that victory over Taylor moves him into contention for another title fight.

Avanesyan had retained his European belt with another brutal stoppage victory, having halted Josh Kelly in February.

"Listen, you've got to be a strong puncher to keep David off, or he will keep walking through you like he did tonight,” he told Sky Sports.

"He [Taylor] took a heavy shot and the referee did the right thing, because this man is a great finisher. He's a predator.

"What is it, five stoppages back-to-back? All at a good level. We need to move on now.

"If we can't move on, we'll just keep doing what we're doing until the big opportunity comes up and I'm sure Neil [Marsh] his manager will get him that opportunity."