Lee Selby set up a world title showdown with bitter rival Josh Warrington by out-classing challenger Eduardo Remirez in a unanimous points win.
The IBF featherweight world champion ended a frustrating year with a comfortable win, the 118-110, 119-109, 116-112, scores seeing the Mexican challenger pay the rightful price for being an astonishing 8lbs over the initial weight limit.
Selby (26-1-KO9) might not have been at his slick best but with mandatory challenger Warrington watching on from ringside at the Copper Box, the Welshman might well have had one eye on the all-British battle in 2018.
'Lightning' did well to maintain his professionalism following Ramirez's shambles on the scales, at the end of a tough year that saw his previous world title defence - against Jonathan Barros - postponed for six months and his mother passed away shortly before winning the rescheduled fight in July.
Selby showed his undoubted superiority in patched and with the Mexican Ramirez trying to pile the pressure on from the start, he stayed out of trouble, settling in as the experienced world champion he is.
A slow start saw the champion assess the situation before picking him off with smart combinations that might not have carried knockout power, but showed just why the Barry boy has now made five successful defences of his title.
Ramirez (20-1-2-KO7) did cause a slight concern, coming on strong down the stretch, but a dominant and attacking final round saw Selby wobble him and stamp his authority before confirming he's happy to meet Warrington next year.
"Its a massive fight... Josh Warrington has earned the mandatory poisition, so to get there he has to be a good fighter," Selby told BT Sport.
"We've sort of exchanged words in the past but a fight between Josh and I would be massive and fantastic for British boxing."