Last night, in Glasgow, Ricky Burns made history by becoming the first Scottish fighter to win world titles at three different weights.
Taking on the Italian Michele Di Rocco for the vacant super-lightweight title, 33-year-old Burns produced a top-class performance to stop the Italian in the 8th round.
Di Rocco arrived in Glasgow having not lost since September 2007 and his record of 40-1-1 suggested that Burns was in for a hard night.
But when the opening bell sounded, Burns weathered an early onslaught from the Italian to go on and totally dominate the fight.
Di Rocco started the first round well but was backed up by some heavy punches from Burns, the second round saw Di Rocco try to keep Burns pinned against the ropes but Burns used his clever footwork to navigate himself out of trouble.
The third round saw Burns increase the pressure on Di Rocco and was given a standing eight count after a combination of punches from Burns had the Italian on the canvas.
Ricky Burns overpowered Italian opponent Michele Di Rocco to win the vacant WBA World Super-Lightweight title in Glasgow.
The fighter from Coatbridge continued to dominate and in round six snapped his opponents head back with a solid, straight right. Burns was by far the sharper of the two boxers and Di Rocco was having trouble landing any decent shots.
The end was to come in round eight when Burns trapped his man in the corner and unleashed a barrage of opponents, Di Rocco fell to the canvas and failed to beat the count.
Burns had defied the odds and come back, after a spell of three defeats in four contests, to become a three-weight world champion and receive the acclaim of the 8,000 packed into the venue.
Burns Beats Di Rocco to make History
