Padraig McCrory has been crowned the IBO light-heavyweight world champion with a stunning sixth round knockout of Germany's Leon Bunn in Frankfurt.
The Belfast fighter extended his professional record to a perfect 15-0 with an utterly dominant victory that left the German crowd shocked at the nature of Bunn’s defeat.
Going into the bout as the underdog against the hometown favourite, McCrory made a mockery of the pre-fight predictions, putting Bunn on the canvas three times before the referee finally stepped in to end things.
There was little sign of the drama that would unfold in the first round as both fighters sized each other up. McCrory edged that opening round with Bunn going to a knee at one stage but that was rightly ruled as a slip.
The Irishman let loose from the start of the second, throwing big right hooks and while he missed with a couple in the early stages of the round, it wasn’t long before he found his range and sent Bunn to the canvas with a minute to go.
McCrory landed a huge right that appeared to have Bunn out on his feet before getting a big left through that had Bunn down and forced into a count.
From there on out, there was only ever going to be one winner with the fight seemingly gone out of the German. He made it to the end of the round but worse was to come for him.
Midway through the third round, McCrory landed with another booming right hook to send Bunn sprawling and at that stage, the fight could - and perhaps should - have been stopped. Bunn made it to the end of the round but was clearly dazed as he stumbled into the ropes and then went to the wrong corner.
The German came out for the fourth round and McCrory eased off slightly, knowing he was already well ahead on the scorecards.
McCrory was picking his shots at will and with so little coming back at him from Bunn, he was in complete control. The Irishman again rocked Bunn with a right hook flush on the chin in the fifth and by that stage the German had nothing in reply.
Bunn slumped on his stool at the end of that round and there were question marks as to whether or not he would continue, but he made it out for the sixth, and what would prove to be the final, round.
When the end came, it was swift. McCrory landed a jab and then a neat short right-hook that saw Bunn crumple and while he was able to make it to his feet before the 10-count, the referee rightly decided he was in no position to continue.
