Joe Joyce is lining-up a heavyweight battle against Oleksandr Usyk after stopping fellow Brit Daniel Dubois in London on Saturday.
After three postponements this year due to the coronavirus pandemic, the pair finally squared off at Church House, with Dubois's British title, Joyce's Commonwealth crown and the vacant European belt at stake.
And Joyce took a major step towards a world title opportunity in 2021 after a surprise victory over Dubois who failed to make the count in the 10th round.
Joyce, 35, took all three titles after getting a jab through onto Dubois's left eye which forced the younger fighter to take a knee early in the 10th and fail to answer the referee's count.
Joyce's experience and composure shone through as he weathered an early storm from his opponent, who had finished his previous three bouts before the third round.
The discipline and jab of the older man, who won a silver medal at the 2016 Olympics, proved the difference with Dubois, 23, unable to see out of his left eye by the end of the fight.
"I was glad it was over," Joyce told BT Sport when he was asked about what he thought when Dubois, who was previously unbeaten in 15 fights, went down.
"I've taken some big shots before. Daniel has got some power but I've felt power like that before. With my experience I've learnt to ride them. I felt his power but I was happy to take, but also not to take it.
"I started looking at the eye and it was starting to swell up. I was trying not to get too close but also not get backed up on the ropes."
And, after the 12th win of his career, the London fighter made clear that Usyk is next in his firing line. Looking directly into the TV camera in the ringside interview, he said: "Usyk, Usyk, I'm ready for you Usyk."
Ukrainian fighter Usyk is the mandatory challenger for Anthony Joshua's WBO heavyweight title after unifying the cruiserweight division.
Joshua, though, defends his IBF, WBA and WBO titles against Kubrat Pulev in London on December 12 and has signed for a two-fight unification battle with WBC champion Tyson Fury – barring no Andy Ruiz Jr-esque surprises against the Bulgarian.
If Joshua vacates the WBO belt, Joyce could be in line for a title fight with Usyk, who defeated another Brit, Derek Chisora, in his last fight.
Fury congratulated Joyce, his old sparring partner, on social media for a "great boxing display", while former world champion Lennox Lewis also praised the fighter for "a big win".
For Dubois, a much trickier road lies ahead. Taking on Joyce was always a risk for a man at No 2 in the WBO rankings and closing in on a world-title shot.
Promoter Frank Warren was talking after the fight about a potential rematch with Joyce, but that is looking highly unlikely.
Dubois – who was taken to hospital for a check on his eye which is suspected to have a bone fracture or nerve damage – said: "He caught me with a good jab, I couldn't see out of the eye. It just happens.
"I couldn't see out of it – I was trying my best. I've been hit harder, but it was where I was positioned and he hit me on the eye.
"I was thinking of how to break him down. Joe rode his punches well. I was maybe a bit trigger happy. It is what it is, Joe won. I’m a tough guy. I’ll come again, for sure.”
