Chris Eubank Jr produced a stirring display to defeat James DeGale via unanimous decision and claim the vacant IBO super-middleweight title at the O2 Arena on Saturday.

There was little love lost between the British pair, who shared a frosty embrace after Eubank's hand had been raised by referee Michael Alexander in London.

The three judges scored the fight 114-112, 115-112, 117-109 in Eubank's favour and it was hard to argue with that assessment at the end of a contest in which former Olympic middleweight gold medallist DeGale failed to leave his stamp.

At the final bell, DeGale raised his arm more in hope than expectation and the 33-year-old, whose record falls to 25-3-1, must know he is nearing the end of a career that twice saw him crowned IBF super-middleweight king.

“I’m back where I need to be – at the top of the food chain and now I’m coming for all the other belts in the super-middleweight division,” Eubank Jr said.

“I knew he [DeGale] would come in here and run.

“I dominated pretty much every round. He is a hell of a skilled fighter but my heart and tenacity got me there. A lot of people said I was going to get my head jabbed off and not stand with a proven boxer. It was the most important fight of my career and I’ve made the statement. It is belt season, it is collection season.”

With victory, Eubank moves to 28-2 and it was he who set the tone for the fight as early as round two, wobbling DeGale with a left hook that forced a mandatory eight-count.