SAMIR Mouneimne says his heart and desire proved decisive as he came out on top in a brutal battle against David Savage.
The 25-year-old Hull featherweight remained on course for a shot at the British title next year having won his title eliminator on a points decision after 10 hard-fought rounds.
Mouneimne had to do it the hard way, coming back from a first-round knockdown and two cuts above his left eye to clinch the 95-95, 96-94, 97-92 points victory at the Sports Arena in Hull.
Admitting it was the toughest test of his career, Mouneimne says there was no way he was going to see his title dream taken away from him in his home city.
"I came through with my heart in the end, it came down to who wanted it more and that was me," Mouneimne told the Mail.
"It was a very hard fight though, I won't lie.
"But I knew I had won the fight, so I wasn't concerned it went the distance.
"Going 10 rounds was good for me and I will take a lot from that fight.
"I've fought a lot of journeymen, but this guy was a proper tough opponent and a great test for me. He kept coming back at me and he was an animal.
"I can't always rely on strength and he kept coming back, so I had to show my desire and my boxing to come through."
Sent to the canvas with a right hand that caught him off balance, Mouneimne shrugged off a cut eye in the third to leave with a deserved victory.
With his left hook bringing him a lot of success, the St Paul's boxer landed the more telling shots and three times in the second, fourth and eighth rounds he had his Scottish opponent in trouble.
Undefeated in 12 fights, Mouneimne will now face a final eliminator in early 2013, with the winner to face British champion Lee Selby before the summer.
