It took Tauranga boxer Gunnar "The Stunna" Jackson less than three minutes to dispose of inexperienced Matthew Tuakolo, 23, in the Time To Shine boxing feature at the ABA Stadium, Auckland at the weekend.
Tuakolo, from Pridelands Boxing Gym in Otara, had no answer to the experienced Jackson who won by a knockout in the third minute of the opening round. It was Jackson's first fight in the super-welterweight division after dropping down from his middleweight 72.54kg to 69.97kg.
Tuakolo stepped in after Australian super-welterweight champion Fred Tukes was a late withdrawal from the fight for personal and contractual reasons.
On the same card, Anthony "TNT" Taylor, also from Tauranga, took a unanimous points decision in an eight-round bout over Sonny "Arch Angel" Vannathy, a renowned kick boxer originally from Laos, in his boxing debut.
Chris Walker from TGA BOX trains both Jackson and Taylor.
"Gunnar's fight went well," said Walker. "[Tuakolo] was a last-minute replacement and the guy was tough and ready, but Gunnar's experience and class shone through and fighting at the lighter weight division, he was much stronger. He was happy and feeling comfortable at the new weight."
Jackson's uppercut to the head, followed by a good body shot, finished Tuakolo off.
Taylor's opponent was more experienced.
"[Taylor] started really strong and knocked the guy down in the first round - the guy did well to get up - and then Anthony dominated the next three rounds. The opposition came back and probably won five and six then Anthony came back in seven and eight to clinch the fight in a unanimous points decision."
The win gives 28-year-old Jackson a 23w-7l-3d record while Taylor, 28, now has statistics of 13w-1l-1d.
Both Jackson and Taylor will feature on a night of boxing in Tauranga on May 14, although their opponents are yet to be confirmed.