Liam Paro put himself right in the super lightweight world title picture with a career-best stoppage win over Montana Love.
The undefeated Queenslander improved to 24-0 with a sixth round knockout of Love in San Francisco on the undercard of the WBC super lightweight championship bout between Devin Haney and Regis Prograis.
Paro may well have earned himself a shot at the winner of that fight, having put the division on notice after more than a year out of action.
The 27-year-old has had a difficult run, twice having to withdraw from fights this year, including a world title bout, with a facial fracture and then an Achilles issue.
Finally back in the ring, the Mackay-product made the most of his opportunity on a big card, handing Love his second consecutive loss to an Australian after he was disqualified for throwing Stevie Spark out of the ring last year.
Paro had promised to get under the Ohio native's skin using a similar high-pressure style.
This contest was slightly more cagey through the opening five rounds, with Paro the more active of the pair and Love attempting to time him with counters on the way in.
Paro looked to be gaining an edge going into the back half of the fight but the complexion of the bout changed completely in the sixth when the southpaw landed a bomb of an uppercut on the button, sending Love to the canvas.
The American lefty was again on his backside moments later as Paro landed a left hand straight after the restart.
With plenty of time to go in the round, Paro swarmed and eventually forced the stoppage following a barrage of punches to a shelled-up Love.
"I'm a man of my word, I said what I was going to do, it was a slow start but, f**k, it feels good to be back after 14 months out of the ring," Paro said after the bout.
"He's a good boxer but I said I could match him in anything, I believe I matched him with the boxing too and then he started slowing down pretty fast.
"We just keep turning the screws every round and that's what I did.
"I'm very happy with my performance. There's no such thing a ring rust."
Having been so close to a world title shot against Prograis earlier this year, Paro called for another crack at the strap.
"Bring on a world title," he said.
"I want the winner of the main event, I'm ready for a world title, I've been ready for ages and I just cemented my spot at the top of this division now give me the best names."
If that doesn't eventuate, perhaps a meeting with superstar Ryan Garcia could be on the cards.
Good stuff paro i was watching, taking a fight to Australia would be cool. Sorry if I got your last name wrong. #letsgo
— RYAN GARCIA (@RyanGarcia) December 10, 2023
Earlier in the night, fellow Aussie Ebanie Bridges was relieved of her IBF bantamweight title by the extremely impressive Miyo Yoshida.
The 35-year-old Japanese fighter became a two-division world champion when she claimed a short-notice unanimous decision victory over a disappointing Bridges.
In the main event, Haney turned in a masterful boxing performance, dropping Prograis on the way to a dominant unanimous decision win.