Martin Murray became the fourth Prizefighter champion - and £25,000 richer - after a thrilling final win over Cello Renda.
Favourite proves bookies right with in a barnstorming finale
Martin Murray became the fourth Prizefighter champion after outpointing Cello Renda in a sensational final.
The man from St Helens is the first pre-tournament favourite prevail, but was made to work every inch of the way by the plucky runner-up.
With both fighters' styles merging perfectly, a packed house at the York Hall was treated to a fitting finale to a night that was short on knockouts, but not lacking in effort or excitement.
And in true Prizefighter fashion, they saved the best until last.
From the off it was clear that Renda was going to give Murray more room to do his work and within 20 seconds a right straight down the middle blooded his nose and lit the touchpaper for a tear-up.
Renda came surging straight back but was stopped in his tracks 30 seconds from the end of the first when another right scrambled his senses before a follow-up flurry forced him to the floor.
It proved to be the moment that would pocket Murray £25,000, but not without one almighty fight.
Looking to even things up, Renda came out swining wildly in the second and did catch his man with a haymaking right that wobbled him. But Murray's defence had looked good all night and spared him further punishment in the corner.
The pair then traded freely for the entire round, Renda hooking for all he was worth and even managing to rock him with cute left uppercut on the inside.
But Murray also enjoyed some success as his man walked forward, a sweet left in the third checking his progress, but merely setting up another ferocious exchange as the quantity, if not not quality of the punches had the York Hall on its feet.
When the final bell came, it was always going to go be a split decision and the knockdown proved vital, the favourite squeezing out a 29-28, 28-29, 29-28 verdict.
