Around Bolton's Reebok Stadium on Saturday night it was very much a case for caution with several inches of snow covering the surrounding area.

Inside the arena's Premier Suite, however, the idea of taking things easy had failed to get through to Leicester super-bantamweight Rendall Munroe.

The city southpaw was very much a man in a hurry as he blasted his way to victory over Argentina's Jose Saez in just 170 seconds.

The experienced South American unravelled under the first-round pressure exerted on him by the former European and Commonwealth champion.

Although Munroe went about his business with an admirable degree of urgency, there was never any sign of recklessness as he smartly picked his shots to head and body.

Munroe had said going into the fight that he felt he needed to make a point and remind people that, as good as Scott Quigg and Carl Frampton might be, the Leicester man remains the No.1 in Britain at the 8st 10lb limit.

The message handed out – via the unfortunate Saez – is that Munroe is in no rush to hand over that ranking.

Looking cool and composed as he entered the ring, Munroe briefly acknowledged the supporters who had braved the atrocious winter weather and travelled from the East Midlands to vociferously back their man.

From there it was straight to work. Saez came out confidently flicking out a left jab but, from the moment Munroe scored with his first meaningful punch, a truncated night looked on the cards.

He landed a crisp left hook to the jaw which seemed to stun Saez as much as it hurt him and he hit the canvas heavily.

The Argentinian beat the count and, for a while at least, Munroe was happy to bide his time, staying on top of Saez without resorting to wild shots.

But, as he forced his rival back on to the ropes, a rib-bending left indicated that there was little hope of Saez finding a way to turn the tide.

The end came briskly as Munroe again had Saez with his back to the ropes. As he unloaded with left and right to the midriff, the 36-year-old hit the deck for the second, and final, time.

He was up at nine but the look he flashed to his cornermen suggested that the night was done in his own mind – and the referee's decision to stop the fight there and then could hardly be questioned.

The win is hardly going to suddenly open people's eyes to the fact that Munroe is a quality performer – he has proved that time and again at domestic, European, Commonwealth and world level.

What is significant, though, is that the victory – and the manner of it – is an indicator of Munroe's state of mind.

He genuinely believes that he will capture a world crown before his career is over and Saturday was the evidence, for those who might have needed it, that the desire still burns fiercely.

"Leicester's world champion," sang the travelling fans as they saluted Munroe at the end of his latest success.

Do not rule it out.