The Clearer Twist National Stadium at Windsor Park hosted the first world title fight to feature two boxers from the island of Ireland.
Lewis Crocker, who grew up in Sandy Row close to the Belfast stadium, and Limerick’s Paddy Donovan battled it out for the IBF world welterweight title.
The historic all-Irish encounter on Saturday night was a rematch. The two fighters last met in March at the SSE Arena in a world title eliminator which was filled with controversy as Donovan was disqualified after the eighth round for a punch after the bell.
The IBF granted a rematch for the eliminator after Donovan's camp appealed against the result, and that was upgraded to a full title fight after Jaron Ennis moved up to super-welterweight.
Donovan was the clear favourite this time, however it was Crocker who came out on top thanks to a super performance in front of more than 16,000 fans.
His ring walk, to 'Sweet Caroline', got the party started long before the final bell.
The fight went the 12-round distance and Crocker won on a split decision.
The new world champion knocked Donovan to the canvas in rounds three and five and that proved crucial.
The two judges’ cards in Crocker’s favour read 114-112 and 114-113, while it was marked 115-111 to Donovan on the third.
The Belfast boxer’s defence was excellent throughout the fight and he picked off his opponent with some fine shots to both head and body.
The changing rooms at the National Stadium are normally filled with footballers ready to grace the international stage or the NIFL Premiership.
But this was a night for boxing. The changing areas were filled with boxers, their trainers and their backroom teams.
Spectators started to file in six hours before the main bout, and they were treated to some action-packed fights. There were nine contests on the undercard.
The main support slot featured unbeaten Belfast super-welterweight Caoimhin Agyarko and Leeds fighter Ishmael Davis.
The pair traded numerous blows in a gruelling contest which went the distance. And there was no real surprise it was a split decision at the end, with the judges confirming Agyarko as the winner.
Among the other fighters on the undercard was Liverpudlian Molly 'Meatball' McCann.
McCann stepped into the ring for the first time as a professional boxer at the age of 35. Her super-bantamweight bout against Kate Radomska came six months after she retired from mixed martial arts (MMA) and 16 years after she last boxed as an amateur.
And her dream of becoming the first UFC fighter to win a boxing world title is still alive after she comfortably defeated Waterford pugilist Radomska in Belfast. McCann won by a technical knockout in the sixth round.
Among the other undercard bouts Belfast boxer Tyrone McKenna, in his final professional contest, defeated Waterford’s Dylan Moran (welterweight) by technical knockout.
Mancunian cruiserweight Pat Brown, a Paris 2024 Olympian, overcame Belfast-based Nigerian Austin Nnamdi in less than two rounds.
And Coleraine’s Matthew Boreland beat Belfast fighter Ruadhan Farrell to win the Irish super-bantamweight title.
Castlewellan fighter Donagh Keary was beaten by Middlesbrough boxer Caine Singh (super-bantamweight), while Coventry boxer Aaron Bowen defeated Argentinian Carlos Miguel Ronner (middleweight).
Carnmoney boxer Kyle Smith, making his professional debut, defeated Connor Meanwell from Nottinghamshire (super-middleweight) and Limerick’s Jim Donovan, a cousin of the headliner, beat Polish pugilist Lucas Barabasz in a middleweight encounter.
Matchroom's 10-fight bill was televised on DAZN worldwide.
