Chris Eubank Jr beat Liam Smith by TKO in round 10 as he dominated to win his middleweight rematch at Manchester Arena.
And in round 10 the referee stopped the fight after Smith, 35, went down again.
“What happened tonight was supposed to happen in January. I trained hard, the focus is always there and I dedicate my life to this sport.”
Smith admitted he had not been at his best, as he struggled with his movement after appearing to pick up an ankle injury.
“Chris was the better man tonight,” he said. “Chris knows how I was with the weight and after the injury, I came down three stone.
“I was flat as they came from the get-go. I couldn’t move my feet and Chris was sharp.”
Eubank fell in his first middleweight match seven months ago, and he kept pushing for a rematch.
“I had to fight some demons, a lot of things to prove, a lot of people saying I don’t have it anymore,” he said.
“I had to live with that for six months knowing it wasn’t true. I enjoy new challenges, and rise to the occasion when I have to.”
Eubank had been involved in bitter confrontations with Smith out of the ring before both bouts but called his rival a “warrior” after the rematch and said he was open to a third fight.