Kampala — Kassim "The Dream" Ouma, registered a technical knockout against American Joey Gilbert to claim the vacant North American Boxing Association middleweight title at the Grand Sierra Resort in Reno, Nevada on Saturday night.

The Ugandan boxer (26-7, 17KOs) picked up his biggest win in years when he stopped local favorite Joey Gilbert (20-3, 15KOs) in six rounds.

Ouma had lost five of his last six ring appearances and many felt Gilbert, who recently fought at light heavyweight, would be way too big for him at middleweight.

The size difference proved to be true in the first couple of rounds as Gilbert was getting the better of the action in a close pitched battle.

During the sixth round, Gilbert was fading, bleeding from his right eye - went down to knee. Referee Vic Drakulich gave him a standing eight count but then stopped the fight as the entire crowd was stunned.

The referee had to stop the fight after the American fighter had double vision after going down to his knee. The win will guarantee Ouma a title shot against Felix Sturm.