Carl Frampton beat Scott Quigg on a split decision in their highly anticipated bout in Manchester last night.
Twenty-nine-year-old Frampton was the narrow favourite with the bookmakers before the bout and he lived up to that billing in the opening rounds, all of which the Belfast fighter dominated.
However, from the seventh round onwards Quigg altered his tactics and started to take a few more risks.
Both men traded blows to the head and body during an entertaining 10th round, but by the end of the 12th it was clear that Frampton had done enough to take Quigg's WBA super-bantamweight title.
Even so, one judge called the fight 115-113 in Quigg's favour, while the other two scored it 116-112 to Frampton.
"The travelling support has been unbelievable. This isn't Manchester, is it? Seems like it is Belfast," said the victorious Frampton.
"I couldn't believe it was a split [decision]. I don't know what that lad was watching. He needs to take a long hard look at himself.
"I knew it was going to be a boring fight. I had to sell it for TV. I knew I had the brain to do that and make it boring."
This was Quigg's first defeat in 34 professional fights - a record that stretched back to 2007.
Liam Apicella
