Canberra boxer Dave Toussaint couldn't take his old man out for Father's Day so he promised him the next best thing - the Australian middleweight title.
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He delivered on his promise with a unanimous decision win over Liam Hutchinson (11-5-1) at Capital Fight Show 12 at the Hellenic Club on Friday night.
For Toussaint (12-0), the win marked the end of years of agonising close losses in the amateurs that robbed him of national gold.
But the ANBF Australian middleweight championship belt represented so much more, and that's why he's given it to his dad Dean.
Toussaint used to climb the fences outside the Lismore PCYC to watch his dad train, and he's been his inspiration and corner man ever since.
"I told my dad I couldn't take him out for a feed last Sunday for Father's Day but I told him I'd bring him the belt for a late present and I did it," Toussaint said.
"It's his, I gave it to him. I think he was happy with that, he's pretty stoked."
The 10 round fight went to the judges scorecards early when Hutchinson was cut open by an accidental head butt in the sixth round.
Toussaint was in control from the opening bell and was rightfully judged Australia's new champion to write another chapter into a historic year.
He overcame a setback that required shoulder surgery to beat Shane Mosley Jr on the undercard of the Jeff Horn-Manny Pacquiao showdown in Brisbane in July.
He's the newly crowned national champion, and now "Diamond" Dave is set to shine on the big stage once more when Horn defends his WBO welterweight title in Brisbane on November 25.
Toussaint's work ethic and remarkable discipline have seen him subbed a future world champion by Danny Geale - who was in the crowd on Friday night - and almost immediately his attention turned to the next fight.
But for a few fleeting moments the fighting pride of Canberra allowed himself to revel in the midst of his proudest win.
"I had three [amateur] silver medals, I had one I lost in countback, in one I had all five judges had me up on points individually and they gave it to the other guy, and had one I lost by a point in the final to the London Olympic national trials," Toussaint said.
"Three silvers I got and I never had the gold medal. I was working really hard to win the Australian title and I've got it now so I'm going to do everything I can to keep a hold of it."
The strong Canberra crowd was a sea of blue and gold in Team Toussaint tee-shirts and the fans erupted when the Canberra southpaw's hand was raised
"Canberra is where I call home. It was good fighting and winning the Australian title in front of everyone here," Toussaint said.
"I didn't really see the crowd beforehand, I try and just stay in the change rooms but it was pretty unreal seeing all the Team Toussaint shirts out there backing me and everyone backing me. When I got the W it was pretty nice."
Promising Canberra boxer Ben Dencio took care of unfinished business by winning the ANBF NSW super featherweight championship over John Min.
