Bernard Hopkins boasted he was the true middleweight champion, then went out and proved it by stopping the previously unbeaten Felix Trinidad in the 12th round of their unification clash in New York.
Hopkins (40-2-1, 29 knockouts) went into the ring as the IBF and WBC title holder after claiming 40 wins from his previous 43 fights.
And he added the WBA belt to his trophy cabinet when beating Trinidad, 40-0, at Madison Square Garden.
While Hopkins' victory might have been unexpected, it was also one-sided. The 36-year-old Philadelphian dominated the last six rounds and had Trinidad in all kinds of trouble.
The end came when Hopkins landed a tremendous right to the head that sent Trinidad reeling backward and to the canvas.
The 28-year-old Puerto Rican struggled up to just beat the count but as referee Steve Smoger looked at him, Trinidad's father climbed into the ring to signal that his son was beaten.