Light heavyweight contender Padraig McCrory traveled to hostile territory in Frankfurt to score a knockout of fellow unbeaten and local favorite Leon Bunn to become new IBO world champion.

McCrory set the tone in the early rounds, when he rocked and dropped Bunn in the second round. He would then score a second knockdown in the third with a big right hand, and then tried to close the show by punishing Bunn for the remainder of the round. Bunn was never able to turn the tide.

The end finally came in the sixth round, when another right hand dropped Bunn hard. He managed to beat the count, but the referee had seen enough and waved off the fight.

McCrory is now hoping to build on this win and aims to go for bigger things.

"It feels very special. Five years ago I would never thought this but now I am here as IBO world champion and it feels amazing. I know I am big and strong and I punch hard. But I can also box," McCrory said.

"I started with the jab, but I caught him early and I saw it shook him and I thought from there I would start walking him down and punching with him. And eventually it got off.

"I understand that this fight is a big fight, but it probably could have been stopped earlier for the boxer's health. But I knew I would get him out of there. This means so, so much. We have so many options now. And just look at this...the Irish have come!"