Sunday 11 December 2016 04:21, UK
Kal Yafai has become WBA super-flyweight world champion after impressively outpointing Luis Concepcion at the Manchester Arena.
The unbeaten Birmingham star dominated from the first to last bell and after having 'El Nica' down in the tenth, won via scores of 120-108, 119-108 and 117-110.
The belt was only on the line for Yafai after Concepcion failed to make weight and the 27-year-old grasped the opportunity and in doing so became his home city's first ever world champion as well as Britain's first ever super-flyweight title holder.
Yafai (21-0-KO14) got straight down to business from the opening bell and quickly found his range and accuracy with the left hand on his way to a dominant, memorable and historical victory.
Speaking to Sky Sports afterwards, a delighted Yafai said: "It's unbelievable, it hasn't quite sunk in yet, I knew I would do it, it was just a matter of how. I done what i needed to do and got through it.
"There's still a lot more to give, this will take me up to another level now, I didn't think I was that great to be honest, was just comfortably winning the rounds and that was it."
Despite Concepcion weighing in heavier, Yafai looked the stronger of the two as the fight commenced, quickly working behind a sharp left jab to get the better of the early exchanges.
A straight right in the second continued proceedings as Yafai started to show he certainly belonged with the world's elite, before crunching hooks to the body and left-hand counters impressively followed in the next few exchanges.
The Panama fighter started to cut a frustrated and bewildered figure as he marched forward with little success, failing to match and counter the skillful work of Yafai.
In the fifth, Concepcion was knocked sideways by a left hook as the pressure continued, before a punishing body shot again had the former champion wincing.
The pair got involved in some close-up battles as the fight reached the eighth round, but Yafai maintained his domination as a right hand over the top landed flush before a clean left hand found the target on the bell.
In the tenth, Yafai sent Concepcion to the canvas after a left hook-right cross combo, but the Panamanian managed to see through the rest of the round, but could do little to change the result in the final few rounds.
