Martin Murray took out his recent frustrations on Roberto Garcia in a dominant points win, moving him closer to a world title shot.
Murray was supposed to be in a world title fight at London's O2 Arena on Saturday, but English middleweight rival Billy Joe Saunders pulled out injured for a second time.
Murray had to do with Mexico's Garica, who stepped in on three weeks' notice for a 12-round bout shown live on ESPN+.
The victory over Garcia by unanimous scores of 116-111, 118-109 and 118-108 will help improve Murray's mood and keeps him in the frame for a fifth attempt at becoming world champion.
Murray (37-4-1, 17 KOs), 35, took the fringe WBC silver middleweight title from Garcia, who went into the fight as the WBC's No 6.
But more importantly for Murray, it improves his chances of fighting one of the world titleholders.
Murray, who is ranked No. 5 and 6 by the WBO and IBF world governing bodies, respectively, said afterward: "We knew he was tough and rugged. It was about keeping a cool head, just putting the rounds in the bank and winning easy.
"My life has been on hold for last six months. Billy Joe pulled out twice. It was about getting win and keeping myself in for bigger fights.
"He's done it twice, so for me to fight him again there would need to be some sort of insurance policy in place. I'm an experienced campaigner, and if I fought him, he would get the same.
"I wouldn't be doing it if I didn't think I could do it [win a world title]. I know there's a world title in me."
You cannot fault Murray's determination in his unerring pursuit of a world title belt since his first of four attempts ended in a controversial draw against Felix Sturm in December 2011.
Gennady Golovkin inflicted one of the subsequent three world title defeats, but Murray is agreeable to facing Triple G, the division's No 1, again. Golovkin first defends his WBC and WBA world titles against Saul "Canelo" Alvarez in a rematch on Sept. 15.
Murray, whom Golovkin stopped in 11 rounds in February 2015, had more quality, and Garcia ceased being a threat in the second half of the fight. Garcia was docked two points and was more of a threat to Murray with his low blows.
Texas-based Garcia (41-4, 24 KOs), 38, had a contrasting style to Saunders, a slippery southpaw, and was unbeaten since a unanimous points defeat to countryman Antonio Margarito, a world champion at super-welterweight and welterweight, eight years ago.
But Murray, from St Helens, was the more seasoned middleweight and used a slight height and reach advantage by boxing at range in the opening session.
Garcia then had a setback when he was docked a point for low blows in the second round, but he was better on the front foot in the third round, which he won.
Garcia landed a thudding, straight right through Murray's guard in the third round, and he kept coming forward in the fourth.
Murray's punches lacked snap in the early rounds, but he put together lovely combinations in the fifth round.
And Murray became more dominant as the fight went on, landing a big right in the eighth.
Garcia complained about being docked another point in the ninth round for punching around the back of the head, and it looked harsh.
Garcia lacked the aggression and ideas to threaten Murray with a knockout in the latter rounds of a rough fight.
Yarde stops Sek
Anthony Yarde is also getting close to a title shot after another comfortable win over Dariusz Sek, who was stopped for the first time in 34 fights.
The English light-heavyweight's promoter, Frank Warren, earlier this week revealed he turned down an opportunity for Yarde to challenge WBO world champion Sergey Kovalev, of Russia, because he felt the East Londoner needs more development.
"He could have fought Kovalev three months ago," promoter Frank Warren said.
"We were offered it, but he will fight for it when he's at his best.
"He will fight for a big title, not a domestic title, before the end of the year."
But it will not be too long before Yarde, 26, is battling for major titles, as every fight looks easy for him.
Yarde (16-0, 15 KOs) started fast, forcing a first-round knockdown, but he was then content to patiently dismantle Sek (27-4-3, 9 KOs), who lost every round.
Yarde shook Sek, from Poland, with a left hook in an otherwise slow sixth round before the English boxer stepped up the pressure in the seventh. Sek was tough but began to wobble and totter under Yarde's power. A right uppercut followed by a left hook prompted the referee to make the stoppage.
Dubois defeats Little
The English heavyweight division is exciting enough with the likes of WBA-IBF-WBO world champion Anthony Joshua, top contender Dillian Whyte, former champion Tyson Fury, Tony Bellew, Commonwealth champion Joe Joyce and British king Hughie Fury.
Throw into that mix 20-year-old Daniel Dubois, who maintained his 100 percent knockout ratio with a fifth-round win over fellow English heavyweight Tom Little. Dubois, from Greenwich, floored Little with a borderline low blow in the fourth before forcing the stoppage with a sustained assault.
It was the longest fight of Dubois' career, and he continues to look really dangerous.
"I feel ready now," Dubois said of taking on the likes of Joyce or Hughie Fury.