Welshman Lee Selby retained his Commonwealth featherweight title with a fifth-round stoppage of Ghana's big-hitting Patrick Okine at Newport Leisure Centre on Friday night.
A sustained onslaught consisting of over 30 punches eventually sank Okine who was stopped in the act of rising by referee Terry O'Connor.
Rees, 25, has been training in Floyd Mayweather's gym and the trip across the Atlantic certainly paid off as the home fighter boxed well behind his jab before pulling off an impressive finish against a renowned puncher to take his record to 13-1 (5KOs).
On the same bill, former world amateur champion Frankie Gavin cruised past Hungarian Laszlo Komjathi and then called out new British welterweight champion Junior Witter.
Gavin (13-0 10KOs) has had much-publicised personal problems but looked sharp in the ring as his opponent retired at the end of the fifth round after taking a heavy beating.
"I got offered Witter the first time at two weeks' notice - but I had problems at home and stuff. Now my head is sorted so instead of talking the talk, let's get it on," 26-year-old Gavin told Boxnation.
"I am ready to fight him. I am the mandatory now. Purdy had his chance and he got beat easy by Lynes. So if I don't get Witter, I want a final eliminator but I want Witter.
"He's been calling me out and now I am calling him out, so let's get it on."
