Tony Bellew won the vacant WBC cruiserweight title after a superb third-round knockout of Congolese boxer Ilunga Makabu at Goodison Park on Sunday evening.
Roared on by a partisan crowd believed to be in excess of 15,000, the lifelong Everton fan made it third time lucky- Bellew lost his previous two world title fights- by taking apart his dangerous opponent with a series of deadly blows that led to the bout being stopped in just the third-round.
It capped a remarkable turn-around for the Rotunda Boxing Club product following a devastating early left hand that sent him sprawling to the floor.
Showcasing his renowned grit, Bellew recovered quickly from the shock and quickly took control of the fight before its dramatic conclusion, peppering Makabu- a skilled fighter with 18 knockouts in 20 bouts under his belt- in an intense concluding round.
It was a case of real life mirroring fiction for the 33-year-old Scouser, who fought for a similar title at the home of the Blues in the latest Rocky film Creed.
And speaking after the fight, a glowing Bellew was quick to hail the influence that the raucous home support played in his victory.
“I told you I am Everton,” he said. That’s why I got up [after being knocked down in the first round]. Nothing was going to stop me tonight. I achieved the dream tonight, I am world champion, that’s what I am.
“The last time I saw that [at Goodison Park] was in a Hollywood film. Michael Buffer was here tonight!
“It was a disaster of a training camp. Four weeks ago I had a detached rib, I had a messed up left hand.
“Two weeks ago I was in a hyperbaric chamber. But who cares?!”
On a special night for Merseyside boxing, there were also wins for a host of other prominent Liverpool-based boxers, including European super-middleweight champion Callum Smith and returning heavyweight David Price.