Paul 'The Punisher' Williams stopped former IBF champion Verno Phillips to pick up the interim WBO light middleweight title, on the same bill that Chris Arreola got off the floor to stop Travis Walker.
The man regarded as the most avoided between the welterweight and middleweight divisions survived a cut over his right eye caused by a headbutt in the first round.
The veteran Phillips (42-11-1, 21 KOs), who in his previous fight captured the IBF title after winning a controversial decision against Cory Spinks, provided some difficult moments for Williams (36-1, 26 KOs) early on loading up with right hands in close.
As the fight went on Williams' power forced Phillips backwards, the former WBO welterweight champion hurting the 39-year-old with a left in the sixth round.
In the seventh Phillips was pinned to the ropes for much of the contest and at the end of the eigth was rocked by a big right hook. After the round at the advice of the ringside doctor Phillips was withdrawn from the contest.
With mega-fights against Antonio Margarito or Kelly Pavlik likely to happen soon, this victory is likely set up a meeting between Williams and unbeaten WBO light middleweight champion Sergiy Dzinziruk.
In the joint main event, America's great heavyweight hope Arreola (26-0, 23 KOs) fought a three-round war with Travis Walker (28-2-1, 22 KOs).
Walker began the contest quickly winning the first round and putting the Mexican American down in the second, but Arreola got up to put his opponent on the canvas twice in the same round.
Walker was decked once more in the third prompting the referee to call a halt to proceedings.
The victory means Arreola is now ranked number two by the IBF behind mandatory challenger Alexander Povetkin.