Chris Eubank Junior ripped the WBA interim world middleweight belt off Dmitry Chudinov tonight.

Eubank Jr, 25, stopped the hard Russian after 2 minutes 11 seconds of the 12th and final round.

The Brighton fighter was comfortably ahead going into the last round but he decided not to play it safe and stay out of trouble but instead launched an assault that had the champion in dire trouble.

Already cut from early on in the fight, Chudinov,28, was pummelled from the first bell as blood dripped and flew from a cut above an eye.

The 02 arena crowd rose to their feet to urge Eubank Jr on and just when it looked as if Chudinov would survive to the final bell, referee Mikael Hook stepped into save him from any more punishment.

The decision was right but probably long overdue after Eubank Jr gave the performance of his career.

He even found time to showboat in the seventh round as he slipped a succession of Chudinov's shots and then came back with combinations from all angles.

Eubank Jr, who entered the ring in traditional style by leaping the ropes, worked his jab from the first round as Chudinov came forward as expected. But it was Eubank Jr who looked the class act in his 20th fight and 19th win.

There was no slow start and Chudinov suffered a cut above his left eye in th second round as the pair exchanged punches.

His face was a mask of blood by the end but he never stopped coming forward and was a brave champion.