Hunter boxer Troy O'Meley has claimed the Australian Super Welterweight Championship with an unanimous points decision against Queenslander Adrian Rodriguez at East Cessnock Bowling Club on Saturday night.
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Cessnock based O'Meley overcame an early standing count and a cut above his left eye to triumph in a gruelling 10-round fight against Rodriguez who was defending his title for the first time.
A large crowd under the dome was firmly in O'Meley's camp with chants of "Rooster, Rooster", O'Meley's nickname, reverberating from the start to the finish. There was even a mascot in a giant rooster costume to lead the chant.
But in the end it was O'Meley versus Rodriguez in the ring and the two fighters put on a battle worthy of the title in one of the most hotly contested divisions in Australian and international boxing.
The O'Meley camp will weigh up their options in the coming weeks, but have set their sights on regional titles on the long-held dream of getting a shot at the world title.
"It feels so good, I was crying after it. They gave me the belt and my brother come up to me and said 'Troy, we said we'd do it'," the 26-year-old said
"It feels awesome. I can't feel anything right now so I'm OK, but tomorrow I'll be sore.
"But it's all part of it. I got hit and I came back stronger. It didn't feel it, we worked that hard it didn't affect me at all.
"I can't wait for the next one."
O'Meley was full of praise for Rodriguez saying he was by far his toughest opponent to date and an incredibly strong fighter who was able to take a lot of punishment.
In the end he put his win down to his preparation in a three-month training camp, which included a month in Thailand retracing his development as a boxer in his teenage years.
"If I didn't have that training I don't know if it could have happened," he said of his title win.
"I pushed past limits I thought possible for my body.
"I got hit in the back of the head and I went down. For sure I was off balance but it counts as a knockdown and then I got a cut above the eye and still I came back stronger.
"I think I won the rest of the round and then the next one.
"As my training shows I will always be the stronger man and bring it home on on the night.
"I will push to my limits no matter what.
"If I lose I lose but I will give 100 per cent every time."
