Even the presence of an Elvis Presley impersonator and the sight of promoter Ken Purchase arriving on a Harley Davidson motorcycle failed to distract Wayne Elcock from a stunning performance at the ICC on Saturday evening.
The 32-year-old Middleweight exorcised his demons with a comprehensive victory over Lawrence Murphy that saw his nemesis slump to the canvas on three separate occasions.
As this a British title eliminator, Elcock's stylish victory inside five rounds affords him the opportunity of avenging his only other career defeat against Scott Dann.
An entertaining undercard set the tone for Elcock's tussle against Murphy. The gregarious Scot disfigured Elcock's unbeaten record and acquired his world title with a brutal stoppage three years ago in Glasgow.
His posturing in the ring prior to Elcock's arrival was designed to engage in mind games with Birmingham's former WBU world champion.
Elcock has appeared on a host of shows, but he can surely never have undertaken such an incongruous entrance as he did Saturday evening.
A guttural roar of Elcock emanated from the audience whilst an Elvis Presley impersonator gyrated on the stage singing That's Alright.
Amidst the pandemonium Murphy advanced menacingly to within centimetres of Elcock's nose.
However, Murphy's bombast proved as flimsy as his chin, as he made an ignominious exit after five rounds.
Elcock simmered with raw aggression all evening and left Murphy prostrate on three occasions before the fight was stopped after two minutes and 15 seconds of the fifth round with Murphy dazed.
It was a triumphant return to his home city for Elcock and intoxicated by his victory grasped the microphone and waxed lyrical to his jubilant supporters.
With Dann's promoter in the audience, a rematch is definitely on the cards for the affable Middleweight. And it is a challenge that Elcock would relish.
"Let's get the British title shot on," he said. "I wasn't at the races against Dann but I promise you this time it will be different.
"This is just the start for me and I am going to put Birmingham back on the map."
Elcock also praised his cornermen Don Aagesen, Paddy and Tommy Lynch for his blueprint for success. "It went well in the corner corner," he said. "Last time I fought him I didn't have a gameplan and was just told to hurry up and bang him out," he said.
The other bouts saw Birmingham's Lance Hall lose (56-58) to London's David Waitfield over six rounds.
Ladywood's Terry Adams edged out Kidderminster's Ernie Smith (58-57) in a turgid Middleweight contest while Jane Couch's 59-57 win over Ukraine's Viktoria Oleynik was met with boos by supporters who deemed the result to be far closer.
