New English champion Ross Minter has his sights set on Michael Jennings' British welterweight title but admits he is in no rush to take the fight.

Minter won the vacant English championship with a thoroughly professional fourth-round stoppage of Londoner Brett James at the ExCel Centre in London's Docklands on Saturday.

James, a former Southern Area champion, was halted by the Crawley fighter after 2min.11sec of the fourth round.

An impressive performance on the Danny Williams versus Audley Harrison undercard has improved Minter's chances of facing Jennings.

He said: "I think I could beat Michael Jennings now.

"It would be a good fight for me but I want to beat him without any problems so I think I need a bit more experience.

"My last three fights have not gone further than the fourth so I want to get a few more rounds under my belt before I take on Jennings.

"It may mean making a couple of defences of this title or even a shot at an intercontinental title but some time in the middle of next year I will look for the step up to the British title."

Minter, who was supported by 700 fans wearing Ross The Boss T-shirts, said: "I got my jab going straight away, which was what we had planned to do because I wanted to stop him getting into his rhythm.

"I went to sleep a little bit in the third round but my corner told me to start throwing my punches in bunches and that's what I did and he could not handle the pressure.

"I hit him with a great right to the body and saw him wince and look to his corner. I knew he was searching for a way out after that and the referee saw that too and stopped it."

Minter's chief trainer Johnny Eames was unable to be at the fight because of illness but the experienced Jimmy Tibbs, who deputised, was full of praise for his man He said: "When Ross opened up and started landing two, three, four shots at a time, he looked like a real veteran pro.

"He softened him up with the jab, opened him up and really worked him over."

Minter, with three stoppage win from his last four fights, paid tribute to trainers Eames and Peter Swinney.

"They've got me moving well, really working on my legs," said Minter. "When your legs are right it puts you in position to throw great shots.

"I've given up work to concentrate on the boxing full-time and that makes a hell of a difference. Boxing's a hard game."

James' lack of power was always going to be a problem.

With just one stoppage win in 14 (against four previous losses and two draws), the Londoner could not keep Minter at bay.

He moved well and aimed to score from a distance with long jabs and a couple of small abrasions on Minter's face showed he had some success.

The pair made a lively start with Minter patiently stalking his rival.

The Crawley man's first punches - a right and following left to the head - were solid but James' answering jabs were not.

Already the difference in power was clear as Minter put his punches together effectively.

The pattern continued in the second round as Minter forced the pace and James' counters had no effect.

James was caught by a left hook and a right in the third and Minter indulged in a little showboating before cracking in another left hook.

Minter maintained the pressure in the fourth, and scored with two rights to the head.

James went on the move, started to jab, and even tried switching to southpaw but Minter brushed it all aside, forced his man to the ropes and opened up with both hands.

James covered up desperately and a few more unanswered shots were enough to convince referee Davies to call a halt.