Attitude can often take you as far aptitude in the theatre of professional sport and the evidence of Friday night suggests Reece Bellotti has both in abundance.

Calm out of the ring, clinical in it, the third round stoppage of Dai Davies carried the hallmarks of a boxer ready to make a lasting impact on the featherweight division.

Indeed, Friday’s victory sets up a shot at the British title, and there is little to suggest such a challenge will phase the South Oxhey fighter.

York Hall is, of course, a stage which Bellotti has grown accustomed to during a still unblemished nine-fight professional career, which now features eight knockouts.

The meeting with Davies was, however, the biggest test to date for the 26-year-old and he comprehensively rose to the challenge.

From the outset Bellotti looked in his element. Hardly surprising for a man whose sights are set on far grander ambitions than heading the card at a NXTGEN event.

“Topping the bill alone is one of my favourite things I have done as a pro, and probably the best thing I have done so far,” Bellotti explained.

“I love nights like this and I thrive off it. I performed well and hopefully there will be more nights like this.

“This is just how I imagined it. I love York Hall and don’t get me wrong I would love to top the bill at the O2 at some point.”

A headline gig at the O2 may be some way off, but Bellotti will provide an entertaining support act at the venue this summer, with a June 2 date at the London arena set for his next fight.

Earning the right to appear on that card never really looked in doubt on a night where Davies, a hardy veteran of 41 professional fights, was comfortably out-boxed to suffer the 12th stoppage of his career.

From spending the early bouts of the evening watching on from ringside at the Bethnal Green venue to getting his hands wrapped to a backing track of Marvin Gaye and Michael Jackson, Bellotti was the picture of calm throughout.

Only when going through his pre-fight warm-up – a quick-fire session of glove work which a clutch of reporters were fortunate enough to be privy to – did the his game face turn on.

Serenity is a skill which will serve Bellotti well. As is the restraint he showed in the opening rounds, feeling his opponent out before unleashing punishing body shots and downing Davies with a left in the third.

“I was relaxed before the fight and it was important for me not to get overexcited about being the main event,” Bellotti said of his preparation for the fight.

“It took me more than one round to work him out and he tried a lot of different things. I can see what works for a fighter and I knew he was going to try the jab.

“I put a lot of pressure on with my feet without actually having to do a lot. The power paid off in the end and I didn’t get too hungry for the knockout.”

Patience has not always come naturally, with a tendency to go looking for a stoppage being a burden during the formative fights of Bellotti’s career.

A small team has helped smooth these rough edges, which by Bellotti’s own admission will benefit from further finite modification. Few have done more to hone Bellotti’s talent than his trainer, Jim McDonnell.

The 57-year-old’s pedigree speaks for itself. A former European featherweight champion and veteran of two world title bouts – his words carry a certain substance. Bellotti’s admiration for McDonnell is clear, and the feeling is reciprocated.

“He has a lot of talent. It is an exciting time for British boxing in the featherweight division and he is going to light up a lot of lives,” McDonnell said.

“To go in there with someone like Davies, with proven durability, who is tough and has been in big fights and to take him out, that makes every featherweight in the country sit up and take note.

“Anyone he hits clean with those little gloves will get knocked out, his power is freaky. I have been in with Azumah Nelson and Barry McGuigan and Reece is carrying that sort of power.”

A growing reputation is the inevitable by-product of success and Bellotti’s record means opponents arrive at bouts knowing what to expect from the ‘Bomber’.

Level-headed as ever, Bellotti is comfortable to abandon the element of surprise and, as ever, his focus turns towards a relentless hunger for hard work as he builds for the future.

“The better names I box, people start to think maybe he does have something. I don’t have that surprise factor if people know my record,” he said.

“I’m learning every day, every time I am at the gym there is always something different to work on. I am looking forward to getting back into the gym.

“I have Jim in my corner and he is teaching me great things. It is onwards and upwards.