Ricky Hatton produced a sensational display in front of his home fans in Manchester as he stopped Kostya Tszyu to claim the IBF light-welterweight crown.
'The Hitman' forced the defending champion to retire on his stool before the start of the final round after an amazing contest that ebbed and flowed throughout 11 pulsating rounds.
The local boy certainly came good in front of 22,000 people at the MEN Arena as he ended Tszyu's 10-year reign as IBF champion.
Many had predicted that Tszyu's power would be too much for the British challenger, yet the 26-year-old from Hyde refused to back down his opponent as he walked through everything the Russian-born fighter threw at him.
In the end the 35-year-old's body proved incapable of matching his younger counterpart as the man known as the 'Thunder from Down Under' was forced to quit.
It was always believed that the hype surrounding the fight would be justified once the action got underway and that certainly proved the case as British fight fans witnessed the biggest world title fight seen on these shores since Frank Bruno defeated Oliver McCall at Wembley back in 1995.
The opening rounds showed Hatton had plenty of intelligence to go with his energy as he crowded Tszyu and backed him up against the ropes as he refused to allow the champion any room to work in.
The British boxer's approach certainly seemed to take Tszyu by surprise as his counter shots failed to stop Hatton's forward progress.
However, the Australian showed just why he had been champion for a decade in the third round as he began to back away from the challenger so he could find room to unleash several booming straight rights and left hooks.
While Hatton continued to stalk his prey round the ring, Tszyu's ability to find the target looked to be turning the fight his way.
He started the fifth round with two huge right hands and it appeared as if his counter shots were taking their toll as Hatton's work-rate dropped considerably in the middle rounds.
Yet Hatton had always stated he would be the one to finish the fight the stronger and he turned the contest on its head through sheer hard work.
Not even a second blow below the belt in round nine could stop the Mancunian, although he gave as good as he got as he hit back with a low shot of his own that forced referee Dave Parris to warn both fighters.
But it was becoming clear all was not well with Tszyu as he looked a shadow of the man that had destroyed Sharmba Mitchell inside three rounds last time out.
The home crowd could certainly sense a home victory was on the cards and round 10 showed the writing was on the wall as Tszyu found himself being worked over on the ropes as he was forced to cover up and hold on for the bell.
The 11th was the scrappiest round of the night, yet it was still too much for Tszyu to take as his corner beckoned over referee Parris to put an end to an absorbing bout.
As the realisation of what had happened sunk in, Hatton fell to the floor and shed tears of joy as he became the latest in a long line of great British world champions.
Ever the champion until the end, Tszyu was quick to tell the crowd he had been beaten by a better man on the night and was full of praise for the fighter who could well have bought an end to his illustrious career.
While one great name looks set to bow out of boxing, another may well have emerged with Hatton's performance no doubt putting him in line for some money-spinning fights in the near future.  |