Anthony Crolla claimed the vacant British lightweight title with a ninth-round stoppage of John Watson in Liverpool on Saturday night.
Crolla produced an impressive performance, dominating throughout and wearing his opponent down before finally knocking him out with a measured right hand.
Crolla made much the sharper start with his punches more accurate and varied as he edged the first three rounds.
Watson, the bigger man, started to try and impose himself physically on his opponent in the fourth although his work remained rather predictable.
The busy Crolla finished the round with an eye-catching flurry although Watson looked to have done enough to get himself back into the contest.
Crolla was given a breather by the referee Richie Davies after being caught by a low blow from Watson in the fifth, but the relentless pace of the contest continued on the resumption.
Cracking uppercut
The sixth saw Crolla rock his opponent with a cracking uppercut and Watson looked in real trouble at one point as he held on.
But the Liverpudlian survived the round and then launched a big push in the closing stages of the eighth to try and shake up his rival.
Crolla’s defence remained tight, though, and the Manchester-based fighter continued to look the fresher and tagged Watson with another right early in the ninth that sent him staggering back.
Although Watson remained upright, Crolla sensed his opportunity and after landing several more good shots he finally connected with another fine right hand which sent his opponent crashing to canvas.
Referee Davies immediately called off the contest and Watson needed some brief medical attention before being helped back to his feet, making a rapid recovery from the knock-out.
“I’m so, so happy,” Crolla told Sky Sports afterwards. “I’ve wanted a Lonsdale belt ever since I got into boxing.”
Earlier in the night, Steve Williams stopped Paul ‘Charlie’ King in the second round of their welterweight contest with a big right hand that prompted referee Phil Edwards to step in and call off the contest.
