Ricky Hatton has been hailed as the best light welterweight in the world after dethroning Kostya Tszyu. Jay Larkin, senior executive at the US television network Showtime, said the other titles were "a nonsense" compared to Hatton's IBF crown.
"Ricky is now the undisputed world light welterweight champion," he said.
"Tszyu was the undisputed champion and was stripped of his belts by political back-room dealings. In the opinion of everyone, Ricky is now the champion."
Those words will open doors for Hatton, who will now be linked to the winner of the WBC showdown between Arturo Gatti and Floyd Mayweather, as well as to WBO title holder Miguel Cotto and WBA champion Vivian Harris.
His camp would not be drawn on what the future holds, with promoter Frank Warren saying the 26-year-old would now take "a long, long break".
But it is clear that Hatton will have the boxing world at his feet after fans from 80 countries - including the all-powerful USA - saw him beat the great Tszyu.
Warren had been criticised for the quality of some of Hatton's opponents.
But he said: "It was one of the best performances by a British fighter in my time in boxing and Ricky was just phenomenal.
"People said why didn't you make fights in the past but we ignored the doubters and he did it. Now the world for Ricky is huge."
Hatton's trainer Billy Graham believes he will go on to be the finest boxer Britain has ever produced.
 Frank Bruno and Russell Crowe were at the fight |
"He will become the best fighter ever to come out of this country," said Graham.
"This kid's really special. He's going to become a legend. He won't be happy with anything other than being undisputed champion."
The fight at Manchester's MEN Arena was watched by a host of boxers, past and present.
Olympic silver medallist Amir Khan said: "I think it was one of the best wins in British boxing history.
"Ricky can defend the title for years now and look for unification fights. He showed he was the best in such style and it was an unbelievable achievement."
Former world super-middleweight champion Steve Collins added: "We knew Ricky was good but we didn't realise how great he was.
"He's got everything he needs to be a great world champion. He pulled off one of the great British wins of all time. "He is on top of the world right now and has got respect from everyone."
Promoter Frank Maloney said Hatton's win eclipsed other great British triumphs like Lloyd Honeyghan's shock success over Don Curry in 1986.
"I think it's bigger than all of them, in front of the biggest crowd and this is just great for British boxing," said Maloney.
"He weathered the storm and fought the perfect fight. He was getting stronger and stronger and I am delighted that he proved the experts wrong, including myself."
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Ricky can defend the title for years now and look for unification fights
