Golden boy Luke Campbell left his mother shaking like a leaf after boxing his way to Olympic glory.
Jill Campbell, 53, who told her little boy to "find a safer sport" after he first picked up the gloves as a 12-year-old, was at ringside to see him strike gold for Team GB last night.
The Hull boxer, 24, brought the house down after out-pointing Irish traveller John Joe Nevin in the bantamweight competition.
Campbell raised his hands in victory - then promptly burst into tears as 10,000 ecstatic fans chanted his name.
Campbell beat John Joe Nevin
"I was shaking from head to foot and I still am," Mrs Campbell said. "At the moment it just feels amazing. To see him up there on the podium, it just felt so unreal, like it was happening to somebody else."
Mrs Campbell said her husband Barney, 54, was unwell with a serious back problem so could not travel to watch his son win gold - but got a call from his wife as soon as their son triumphed.
"He said, 'I told you. I told you all, his day would come'," Mrs Campbell added. "He has always believed in him, straight from the start he always said, 'Luke, one day, will be stood there with a gold medal'."
Mrs Campbell, who has two other sons, Kane, 23 and Christopher, 32, and daughter Kirsty, added: "He's got such a talent. His whole presence, he's calm, collected and he thinks about things. He doesn't rush into anything."
Luke Campbell wins an emotional gold
After saluting the cheering home fans Campbell left the ring to embrace girlfriend Lynsey Kraanen, the mother of his 18-month-old son Leo. The couple are expecting another child as she is almost six months pregnant.
Ms Kraanen, 24, said: "I was really emotional and scared about him getting in the ring, then all of a sudden we all got this amazing confidence. We all feel on top of the world. We are going to have a really big party for him next Friday."
Campbell held his left hand over his heart as he stood on the podium to receive his gold medal. He struggled to contain his emotions again as a lusty rendition of God Save The Queen raised the rafters at the ExCeL.
He then jogged round the outside of the ring with a Union Jack held over his head to yet more cheering, clapping and chants of his name. There were more tears outside the ring from friends and family.
The fighter's best friend Kenny Marsden, 27, from Hull, with tears in his eyes, said: "This is like a dream come true, it's unbelievable. What people don't realise is he's worked so hard for it - all his life. It's not just training, it's 24/7 with him. He is totally dedicated and deserves this so much."
Former world heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis, who witnessed the fight from ringside, said: "I thought he deserved the win. I thought he threw the better punches and really wanted it more and matched his opponent punch for punch."
The taller Yorkshireman used his jab to out-point the Irishman who held the centre of the ring but was unable to get in the cleaner shots. Campbell had his Irish rival down with a right hook in the third round, forcing Nevin to take the referee's count.
Mike Bromby, the coach at St Paul's ABC in Hull where Campbell is based, said: "I've had him since the age of 12 at St Paul's since a little kid and people didn't think he was going to do it. Well he has done. He's worked so hard he deserves his day. He had a fantastic three rounds and came in with a great shot. He kept calm, kept his nerve, that's what its all about. And there was a lot of pressure on him, all the English and the Irish here."
Mr Bromby said it was not known if Campbell will go professional after this win, but said the boxer will have some time off after his Olympic exploits.
Speaking about his victory this morning, Campbell said his gold medal was a dream come true.
"I'm so overwhelmed at the moment and it all seems a bit of a blur," he told BBC Breakfast. "It's everything I have ever worked for and I have achieved my ultimate goal. It is a moment I have dreamed about all my life."
He also paid tribute to the GB boxing team and his Olympic roommate and friend Anthony Agogo who secured a bronze medal at the Games. "Anthony is a great boxer and really motivates me," he said.
Agogo, who lost his semi-final bout last night, said he was disappointed about his loss but "overjoyed" that his "best boxing mate" Campbell had managed to secure the gold medal.
