Glenn Foot produced the performance of his life to lift the Commonwealth light-welterweight title.
The Sunderland fighter stopped the favourite and previously-unbeaten Jason Easton late in the 11th round in Glasgow.
Foot, who put the Edinburgh man down in the second round, dominated this Scotland v England confrontation for the vacant belt.
The 30-year-old looked destined for a comprehensive points success at the SSE Hydro, only to put on a late assault.
And it paid off in the penultimate round, a heavy right catching the 26-year-old flush on the chin. Foot powered in two follow up rights which sent Easton to the canvas.
Referee Terry O’Connor immediately called a halt with medical staff giving Jason prompt treatment inside the ring.
Foot, for his part, showed tremendous class by not celebrating, instead taking hugs from coach Dave Binns and fellow cornerman, Tom Binns.
Easton was given oxygen in his corner but recovered quickly and was soon back on his feet embracing Glenn in centre-ring.
Both boxers deserved the huge applause for an incredible 11-round battle.
You got the sense Foot, having been the victim of a harsh points defeat at the hands of IBF European champ Josh Leather last November, was in no mood to leave this shoot-out to the cards of the ringside judges.
The Phil Jeffries-managed star was quickly out of the blocks, connection with right after right, plus a good straight left for good measure.
Round two was even better, flooring Easton with a booming right. Jason was up swiftly, but Glenn continued to attack throughout the third and fourth sessions to establish a decisive lead.
Easton came back to take round five but Foot was soon back in command in the sixth and by the midpoint punch-lines had ‘The Hammer’ 59-54 up.
Would the Marley Pots hard case tire in the second half. The answer was an emphatic ‘no’.
Round seven saw good stuff from both men with the ninth just as hard to split the warring rivals.
But Foot’s clubbing rights saw him clinch the eight and he marched forward relentlessly in the 10th.
When the fight moved into the 11th, only a stoppage could alter the outcome, but when the stoppage came it was from Foot. What a night, what a right!
Words: Roy Kelly Picture: Channel 5 Sport
