Lee Selby gave Evgeny Gradovich a boxing lesson as he won the IBF world featherweight title by a technical decision in the eighth round.
Gradovich was peppered by punches from the skilful Welshman until he was stopped by a gruesome cut by his right eye. As the cut was caused by an accidental clash of heads, Selby was adjudged winner by unanimous scores of 79-73, 80-72 and 79-73.
Selby became the 12th Welshman to win a world title, following in the footsteps of Joe Calzaghe, Howard Winstone, Freddie Welsh and Jimmy Wilde among others.
It was a sparkling display from Selby, who nullified the aggressive California-based Russian who was making his fifth title defence.
Slick Selby's hand speed troubled Gradovich from the first round, including a big left hook, and the Welshman continued his good work in the second.
Selby, from Barry, showed off his array of skills in the second round, catching the Russian from a variety of angles.
Selby's immaculate work had Gradovich's face marked up and bleeding after four rounds and in the sixth the tough Russian was staggered by a right hand.
Gradovich, 28, was stopped in his tracks by a lightening combination early in the seventh and later in the round suffered the horrendous cut by his right eye.
With his face covered in blood, Gradovich was stopped in the eighth round after being inspected by the ringside doctor and Selby was ruled winner by unanimous scores.