Stuart Hall has beaten Vusi Malinga on points to be crowned IBF bantamweight champion at First Direct Arena in Leeds.
The 33-year-old from Darlington started well and scored a knockdown in the third round, although he came under pressure later in the fight.
All three judges scored the bout in favour of Hall (116-111, 117-110, 117-110), who completed the final four rounds with a swollen eye.
"It feels unbelievable," Sky Sports News quotes him as saying. "I knocked him down but he came back at me. They're so much tougher at this level.
"I couldn't see anything out of my left eye for the final few rounds but I kept my focus and I always knew I was in front."
The best was vacant after the IBF stripped it from Jamie McDonnell for failing to agree a deal with his mandatory challenger within the deadline.
Michael Penkman
