A boxing prospect being tipped to conquer 'Canelo' edged closer to the top of the division with a thumping KO Thursday

• Vladimir Shishkin extended his undefeated record to 11 wins (seven knockouts) with a stoppage win Thursday.
• The super middleweight prospect beat Oscar Riojas in the ninth round after felling the fighter with a clubbing right hand.
• Shishkin is being touted for big things. His promoter Dmitriy Salita told Insider recently that he wants to match the Russian against the sport's No.1 fighter Saul "Canelo" Alvarez.
• Watch Shishkin's knockout win below.

A boxing prospect being tipped to conquer Saul "Canelo" Alvarez edged closer to the top of the division with a thumping knockout win Thursday.

Vladimir Shishkin, 29, extended his unbeaten record to 11 wins (seven knockouts) inside the fabled Kronk Gym in Detroit — a behind-closed doors show organized by Salita Promotions and broadcast on the UFC Fight Pass app.

Shishkin annihilated the overmatched Oscar Riojas, winning in the ninth round.

The Russian displayed heavy hands throughout the bout, often beating the sweat off Riojas' brow with many of his clubbing overhand rights.

One of the final blows of the fight was a lazer right which felled Riojas, who managed to get off his feet to beat the count, but failed to defend himself from an onslaught against the ropes.

It was all over. Shishkin had won.

Watch the ninth round knockdown right here:

The victory would have pleased Shishkin's promoter Dmitriy Salita, who praised his super middleweight to Insider last week.

"In my opinion he's [already] the best super middleweight in the world," Salita told Insider in an interview earlier this month. "I've seen him in the gym, sparring, and he's very big, skilled, and … a future world champion."

Shishkin competes in one of the many divisions Alvarez campaigns in.

The versatile Mexican boxer is widely regarded, including by Insider, as the sport's No.1 fighter, and after world title wins in the super welterweight, middleweight, and light heavyweight divisions, is now being poised to win a legitimate championship at super middleweight in the coming months.

Salita told us 168-pound matches against the likes of Fedor Chudinov and David Lemieux could be next for his prospect-come-contender, but has his eye on a future fight with Alvarez.

"I think he will beat Canelo Alvarez in the next 12-18 months. Canelo would be in for the fight of his life."

• Read more:
• Manny Pacquiao would be 'too much' for Floyd Mayweather if the boxers fought for a second time, trainer Freddie Roach said
• A 23-year-old American beat his opponent so ruthlessly the corner had to rescue their fighter from taking any more punishment
• A referee is being rebuked for allowing a fight to go on when a boxer had been knocked down and looked out for the count
• Inside Matchroom Boxing's return to operations in the US
• Manny Pacquiao is thinking about the end of his boxing career and which 2 fights to retire on, according to his coach Freddie Roach