By Elliot Foster
Callum Johnson made it a Commonwealth double as he picked up the vacant light-heavyweight crown.
The Boston man stopped Willbeforce Shihepo in round nine, exclusively live on Sky Sports.
Johnson moves to 16-0 (11 KOs) with the victory against the Namibian, who slips to 23-9 (17 KOs), at the Manchester Arena, as part of the undercard to Anthony Crolla’s world lightweight title showdown against Jorge Linares.
The Joe Gallagher-trained 175lber, also a Commonwealth Games gold medal winner as an amateur, will be looking at this victory as a springboard to bigger and better things.
But despite the win, Johnson, 31, was unhappy with the victory against the veteran 33-year-old, who has now had 32 fights.
He told Sky Sports: “I didn't enjoy that all that much. It was scrappy and I think the occasion got to me. I was loading up. I hurt him early and thought I could get him out of there.
“He's boxed Arthur Abraham [the former WBO world super-middleweight champion] and the record he has speaks for itself so getting him out of there was a good result.
“I could feel him tiring. I was looking for the left hooks far too much but I could feel him getting weaker and weaker.”
Johnson’s promoter Eddie Hearn said: “He's been waiting for that chance for a long time. Let's move on to European titles. Let's get moving now. Maybe a quick Commonwealth defence and then move on.”
