Belfast's Jamie Conlan captured the Commonwealth title in London on Saturday night with a stunning come-from-behind stoppage of South Shields' Anthony Nelson, live on BoxNation.
Conlan was roared on by his younger brother (and, you know, Olympic medallist and amateur world champion) Michael from ringside, and dropped his undefeated opponent hard in the opening exchanges. Nelson, however, regrouped and put the Belfast super-flyweight under intense pressure with some sharp come-forward shots.
The Commonwealth champion settled before responding in kind, dropping his Irish adversary in the third with a beautiful counter-right as Conlan fought off the ropes. Then, after three more rounds of non-stop action, Conlan found himself on the brink once more.
We probably shouldn't have been shocked by his response...
Jamie Conlan 30-04-16 by ballsandmauls
Well Done Jamie Conlan! Great heart and determination shown there. British fight of the year hands down. It was like watching a Rocky Movie
— BLTV (@BoxingLegendsTV) April 30, 2016
Absolutely incredible. I cannot believe what I've just seen! Jamie Conlan you have come back from the dead. Rematch please @boxnationtv
— Chris Lloyd (@ChrisLloydTV) April 30, 2016
Jamie Conlan! Wow! Haha what a fight!! #NelsonConlan #BoxNation
— Paddy Barnes OLY (@paddyb_ireland) April 30, 2016
This man might have the biggest heart in boxing 👊 Sensational fight - #AndTheNew CommonWealth Champ @JamieConlan11 pic.twitter.com/8ZkR5qpdfj
— BoxNation (@boxnationtv) April 30, 2016
Well done @JamieConlan11 Great win!!!!!!
— matthew macklin (@mattmacklin) April 30, 2016
@JamieConlan11 2 words #warrior #Legend 🍀👊👍
— Gary Spike OSullivan (@spike_osullivan) April 30, 2016
Love it that we have our own Arturo Gatti. Take a bow @JamieConlan11 Fight of the year every time he's in the ring #NelsonConlan #BoxNation
— Paul D Gibson (@PaulieDGibson) April 30, 2016
You might remember Conlan's fight with Junior Granados at the National Stadium last July, in which Belfast's own 'Mexican' was dropped hard twice before heroically coming from behind to claim a a points victory.
As much as you don't like seeing him making a habit of it, he's never in a bad fight, is he?
Speaking after the fight, Ireland's own Gatti said he'd like to defend his belt in Belfast, and was more than willing to throw down with Nelson again if promoter Frank Warren can get the fight on. Not one to be missed, by any stretch of the imagination.
