Lewis Crocker beat Paddy Donovan on a controversial split decision to win the IBF welterweight championship of the world at a raucous Windsor Park.
Crocker, badly beaten in the first meeting of these Irish rivals in March, but the winner because Donovan was disqualified, scored crucial knockdowns in the third round and the fifth to shade a cagey, tactical encounter 114-112 and 114-113 with two of the judges.
The other had it 115-111 to Donovan, who was far more aggressive and won more rounds but had his world title dream shattered by the resilient Belfast native.
"Nobody gave me a chance in this fight – nobody," said a delighted Crocker in the ring afterwards.
"I was picking the shots well, I wasn't sitting there. I think I boxed a great fight. Nobody gave me a chance, everybody thought I was going to get stopped."
The fighters felt each other out in the first couple of rounds but Crocker gained a crucial foothold when he slipped a Donovan attack and landed a cuffing shot as he overbalanced, sending him to the canvas. Donovan disputed the knockdown but he was given an eight count.
In the next, a Donovan left hand sent Crocker staggering back into neutral corner and he looked like taking control of the fight as he dominated the fifth until, near the end of the round, Crocker unleashed a left hook that sent him down again, for real this time.
Donovan showed no ill-effects from the knockdown but he didn't take any chances as the rivals probed for openings as the rounds ticked by. However, with Crocker content to work out of range, the Limerick man sat behind his jab and seemed to be in control of the tempo.
Crocker landed a couple of stinging right hands in the 10th but Donovan continued to outwork him.
The Belfast fighter, sensing he may have trailed on the scorecards, attempted more aggressive tactics in the final round. However, his looping left hooks failed to find their intended target as Donovan continued to land his jab.
As the final bell rang, both boxers raised their hands and roared with celebration.
However, the two knockdowns proved crucial and Crocker – Ireland's new world champion - called out Conor Benn as he looked to the future.
