Arturo Gatti took the vacant WBC light welterweight title after a unanimous points win over Gianluca Branco overnight.
Gatti was awarded the contest 116-111, 116-111 and 115-112 after battling back from a suspected broken hand in the fifth round. The 31-year-old sent Branco to the floor with a powerful left hook in the 10th after a cautious fight where his jab was the chief weapon.
He said: "I won with my heart and my boxing skills. I was smart enough to beat him on points. I broke my hand again and I hurt him with my left hand but I couldn't finish him with it hurting. I couldn't end it the way I wanted to."
The result could open up a route to the title for Britain's Ricky Hatton, who is ranked at number three behind the pair by the WBC. Gatti has now won 37 of his 43 fights while former European champion Branco suffered his first defeat after 32 straight victories.
Filed by Mark O'Neill-Cummins
