Belfast's Carl Frampton won his dream fight at Windsor Park by stopping Luke Jackson in nine rounds to secure another shot at the world featherweight title.
Having successfully defended the interim WBO title, he will be confirmed as mandatory challenger to full champion Oscar Valdez but will next fight IBF titlist Josh Warrington, who travelled to Windsor Park to be ringside.
Against Australia's Jackson, the 31-year-old had long been a significant favourite, and he performed to the level expected.
With Jackson increasingly struggling to defend himself and remain on his feet having already been knocked down in the eighth, his corner threw in the towel for referee Terry O'Connor to wave the action over after one minute and 21 seconds of the ninth.
It was in the fifth when the 33-year-old showed significant signs of being broken down, and while struggling to remain on his feet after a right to the body, his impressive resilience and pride gradually became his greatest strength.
Frampton consistently succeeded with his powerful jab, creating the opening for the right uppercut he landed in the sixth, the point at which Jackson further slowed down and, with his left eye almost swollen shut, stopped moving his head.
He sensed the stoppage and pursued it with the freedom that comes with so little to defend himself from - contributing to him landing the powerful left to the body that finally sent Jackson down.
The Australian returned to his feet but was barely able to stay there and amid further punishment in the ninth, with his defence gone and his head rocking from hurtful left and right hands, the towel came in and Frampton's victory was confirmed.
Frampton, who moves to 26-1, 15 KOs, will now face unbeaten rival Josh Warrington for the IBF featherweight title.
The Northern Irishman said: "Hopefully he [Warrington] can make the fight. I'm not for a second saying I'm a world champion because I have this interim [WBO] title. Josh is a world champion and I would love to be a world champion again.
"That fight is the easiest to make. He is here, so he's keen, and I'm as keen as mustard, so let's do it."
Warrington, who was ringside, said: "I'm looking to get the fight - for me, I beat (Lee) Selby and I'm still ranked behind Carl, so I'd like to be number one for Christmas."
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