The challenger became frustrated as Vargas found success with left hooks to the body to win the early rounds. Ball was warned by the referee in the third for bodyslamming his opponent to the canvas.

Vargas varied his attack with a combination to head and body in the fourth. Running out of ideas, Ball momentarily switched to a southpaw stance in search of something different.

The difference in height did not lend itself to the most enthralling contest but Ball began to turn the tide by turning it ugly, smothering Vargas’ attack and landing on the inside.

Shouts of ‘Wrecking Ball’ from a small contingency of fans spurred the fighter on as he pushed Vargas onto the ropes in the sixth, landing a telegraphed right.

In a terrific seventh round he rocked Vargas with a bruising overhand right. With Vargas backpedaling, Ball surged forward – knowing he could hurt Vargas.

Then came the contentious and messy knockdown. With the pair tangled up on the inside, Ball outmuscled and pushed Vargas before landing a left hook.

Vargas remonstrated with the referee as the round drew to a close. He recovered well to land a thudding left hook in the 10th.

As the fight entered the championship rounds, Ball chased the weary looking Vargas around the ring. Ball landed with a thudding right to drop him for a second time in what was this time a legitimate knockdown.

The general feeling ringside was Ball had done enough with the two knockdowns to become Britain’s first new world champion since Savannah Marshall and Natasha Jonas’ world-title double in July 2023.

“Nick Ball should be a world champion tonight and will no doubt be in the very near future,” his promoter Warren said.