Ryan Rhodes hailed the toughest win of his long career after claiming the European light-middleweight title with a stunning victory over Jamie Moore.

The Sheffield veteran, 32, rolled back the years with a shock seventh-round stoppage to end a pulsating fight in Bolton on Friday night.

But he admitted he had been forced to dig deep for a win that moved him back into world title contention - more than a decade after his last unsuccessful attempt for the WBO middleweight crown.

"In 14 years as a professional that is probably the hardest fight of my career," said Rhodes.

"He threw some tremendous body shots - he is one of the best body punchers in Britain - and I knew I would have to tighten up.

"He throws them without even thinking about it, that is what a talent he is, but I was taking everything and I knew I would come back with a shot and catch him."

While the European belt was the more tangible reward for the winner at the Bolton Arena, the fight's status as a World Boxing Council eliminator was both boxers' strongest motivation.

And it was Rhodes who moved a huge step closer to a crack at WBC champion Sergio Martinez as he floored his man in the seventh before finishing him off in style.

As expected, Moore began the fight strongly and pressurised from the centre of the ring while Rhodes looked to box at range.

It was the Salford fighter who landed the more punishing blows in the early rounds but Rhodes was more than prepared to trade and a series of right-handed jabs and hooks in the second were a sign of what was to come.

Several searing body shots and a lovely left-right at close quarters by Moore were dealt with well by Rhodes, who also showed his strong chin by shaking off a winging left which landed flush.

Rhodes finished the fourth stronger, however, with a left of his own giving Moore something to think about.

Both fighters were warned for low blows in the sixth round, with Moore landing a hurtful shot below the belt before Rhodes retaliated by straying with one of his own.

But while Moore was blowing in the seventh, the Yorkshireman still seemed to have plenty in the tank as he brought the fight to a thrilling climax.

When the end came it was clinical: Rhodes landing flush to floor Moore with a right hook which sent him to the canvas emphatically.

The champion rose bravely to beat the count and rallied with a series of heavy-handed blows, but Rhodes sensed his chance and backed his man up before firing in an array of unanswered shots that forced referee Howard Foster to step in and stop the fight.

Moore was valiant in defeat, insisting he had lost on the night to the better man.

And Rhodes had nothing but mutual respect - insisting the Salford man will bounce back.

"Jamie has been a great champion for such a long time," he added. "He can definitely come back, of course he can.

"The two best light-middleweights in Britain were in there tonight - and it was a great fight."