Bernard Hopkins maintained his position as the undisputed middleweight champion of the world when becoming the first man to stop Oscar de la Hoya at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Just four months short of his 40th birthday, 'The Executioner' gradually wore down one of the sport's all-time greats before finishing the job off with a lethal body shot in the ninth round.
De la Hoya earned his 'Golden Boy' nickname when starring at the 1992 Olympics and had won 37 of his 40 pro bouts, claiming world titles at six different weights.
However, he had been unconvincing in his first fight at middleweight when outpointing Felix Sturm and now he was in with the division's top dog.
Hopkins had lost just two of his previous 47 fights, the last defeat being on points against Roy Jones back in May 1993. He has been a middleweight world champion since 1994 and unified the WBC, WBA and IBF titles when stopping the previously unbeaten Felix Trinidad in the 12th round in September 2001.
And although both fighters had weighed in for this bout well inside the 11st 4lb limit, with Hopkins having 2lb to spare and de la Hoya 3lb, the former's greater natural strength proved decisive.
De la Hoya just shaded the opening two rounds behind his fast left jab but Hopkins hinted at what was to come with a couple of strong straight rights in the third.
The middle rounds resembled a chess match as both boxers sought to prise open each other's superb defence. De la Hoya targeted Hopkins' body while the latter looked to rough up his smaller opponent whenever the pair came close together.
The harder, more hurtful punches always just seemed to be coming from Hopkins, however, as the 39-year-old's greater power shone through.
A crunching right uppercut early in the ninth eventually rocked de la Hoya and then a vicious left hook to the ribs had him reeling on the canvas well past the count of 10 halfway through the round