Middleweight knock-out artist Gennady "GGG" Golovkin won a narrow decision over Daniel Jacobs to unify titiles in his division.
The unbeaten Kazakh had knocked-out his last 24 opponents and Jacobs was the first person to take him 12 rounds in his career.
The fight started with Golovkin pouring on the pressure and eventually knocking down Jacobs in the fourth. To his credit, Jacobs dusted himself off and took the fight to his much vaunted opponent.
Picture by: Frank Franklin II/AP/Press Association Images
Golovkin faded over the closing rounds but had just enough stored away from earlier in the bout to get over the line.
GGG won on the judge's scorecards 115-112, 115-112 and 114-113.
Talks of a super-fight with Saul "Canelo" Alvarez may have to be shelved for the time being if Jacobs is to be granted a deserved rematch.
Speaking afterwards, the victorious Golovkin said: "It was a good fight; he is a very good fighter. This was my toughest fight.”
Earlier in the night Ireland's Andy Lee won a unanimous decision over KeAndrae Leatherwood.
@AndyLeeBoxing shake off the ring rust and back to winning! Up the Irish!! pic.twitter.com/gl7WYzv9zj
— Adam Booth (@boxingbooth) March 19, 2017
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