Jamie Moore ended three years of frustration by clinching the vacant European light-middleweight title with a brilliant destruction of former world champion Michele Piccirillo on Friday night.
The Salford southpaw has been pursuing a shot at the belt since 2006 but has had to endure a painstaking wait due to injuries and politics.
But the 30-year-old seized his opportunity at the Robin Park Arena in Wigan by taking the respected Piccirillo apart with a third-round stoppage and is keen to push on to world title level quickly, having initially planned to retire by now.
Moore revealed before the fight he was sacrificing the lion's share of the purse in order to bring the fight to home turf and he was repaid by his loyal support in Lancashire.
Piccirillo, 39, is a former IBF welterweight champion and held the European belt before unsuccessfully challenging Vernon Forrest for the WBC version of the world title.
Moore stalked the cagey Italian from the opening bell and slowed Piccirillo down with two stiff southpaw jabs in the opening round, following up with the left and landing cleanly.
Piccirillo looked every one of his 39 years and Moore had his man down early in the second.
The Italian recovered quickly but a driven left hand in one corner rocked his head back again and he was floored more cleanly with a wide left moments later.
Moore could barely miss, despite his opponent's elusive style.
The Mancunian was practically leaping into shots, such was the ferocity with which he threw them.
Piccirillo enjoyed a slightly better start to the third, landing more regularly. But when Moore sprang out with a left from behind the peek-a-boo guard, the resulting shot seriously hurt the Italian.
Moore went in to follow up and landed a rare body shot with the left hand, before a clearly sickened Piccirillo turned his back and went down on one knee.
The veteran was obviously unable to beat the count and when referee Robin Dolpierre waved the contest off, Moore's world-class demolition job was complete.
