Fabio Wardley has made history becoming Suffolk's first-ever world champion crowning his remarkable rise.
Wardley officially became World Boxing Organisation (WBO) heavyweight champion on Monday evening after reigning champion Oleksandr Usyk relinquished the title.
The Ipswich boxer began his dramatic rise a decade ago this week having walked into a local gym hoping to improve his fitness - ten years on, he's a world champion.
Wardley walked into Matt Brennan's Ipswich gym a decade ago with the faintest expectation that he would become his fitness coach on the way to stardom.
Brennan said: "If I said to you on day one that he was going to be a world champion, I'd be lying.
"But if you look at his attributes back then, they haven't really changed, he's got something from within that you can't train.
"I think only when he's retired, will people sort of sit back and look at his achievement and how remarkable it is. What he's created and what he's done, it's a real life, but better than, Rocky story - it really is, it won't happen again in our lifetime."
Wardley's mum, Shonni-Leigh, spoke with delight fresh-off her son being crowned as heavyweight champion calling his existence a miracle in itself.
She said: "He was never meant to be here, I was never meant to have children. I was told I'd never have any.
"I always knew he was going to be amazing because you don't get given something that you want, but you're not supposed to have, and it not be outstanding - and he is outstanding.
"I am besides myself with joy, there isn't a word big enough for how I'm feeling. He is something else but I always knew he would be, Fab's always been a go-getter."
Despite being newly-crowned as heavyweight champion, Shonni-Leigh won't be letting fame get to Wardley's head.
She added: "There is no way [he lets fame go to his head]. It doesn't matter how old he is, he is my kid and he will do as he's told!"
Former world heavyweight champion and British boxing legend Frank Bruno was also full of praise for the Ipswich fighter.
He said: "It's good to have a new British face as a world champion and he now needs to step up to the big fights.
"Suffolk as a county needs to embrace their new world champion and support him on his boxing journey and let's look forward to some more wins and, who knows, more belts along the way.
"I was impressed on his performance a few weeks ago but I have followed him earlier in his career, I am delighted for him his trainers and his family."
A big Ipswich Town fan, Wardley fights with the club's badge emblazoned on his shorts during fights and sold-out Portman Road for his win against Justis Huni in June.
Ipswich Town Chairman Mark Ashton said: "The magnitude of what he's done is hard to comprehend. 'Incredible' doesn't seem a big enough word. Because this is, in my opinion, the greatest individual sporting title on the planet.
"Everyone said he couldn't do it. Everyone has always said 'this is a step too far' along the way. But he always believed. Whatever happens now, no-one can take this achievement away from him.
"He's done the town and the county so proud. He wears the Ipswich Town crest with absolute pride and I'm so pleased the club played our part in his journey by hosting that historic night at Portman Road back in June.
"Honestly, this couldn't have happened to a nicer person."
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