Napa started slowly but a cut above Ballone's right eye after a clash of heads in the fifth saw the tide turn towards the British fighter.

He took control from there on in, hurting his opponent in the eighth and eventually flooring the Belgian in the 10th with a thunderous body shot.

Napa took a split decision with two of the judges scoring it in his favour.

The 30-year-old had failed in an attempt to claim the same belt in March 2007, losing to Simone Maludrottu in Dagenham.

 

I deserve this, all my hard work has finally paid off. Words cannot explain how I feel. But he was well worth his victory on Friday at Bethnal Green's, York Hall.

The early rounds were shaded by Ballone, but the clash of heads and a fine left hook from Napa in the fifth saw him exert his control on the fight.

He turned the screw in rounds six and seven with Ballone close to the canvas on a couple of occasions in the eight.

The home fighter continued to pepper Ballone with fierce body shots and it was a right in the 10th that floored the champion.

Ballone held on, with the final two rounds going his way as he chased the fight.

Napa, the current British champion, claimed the European equivalent after 10 years as a professional boxer.

"I've put so much hard work in and I thank my team for this victory," he said.

"I deserve this, all my hard work has finally paid off. Words cannot explain how I feel."

The three judges scored the contest, 114-114, 114-113, 114-113.  (BBC News)