Boxing: Jackson looks forward to next bout

WBO Oriental Middleweight champion Gunnar Jackson may be defending his title in Tauranga in the coming months.Photo/File

WBO Oriental Middleweight champion Gunnar Jackson is back on track following his relentless fifth round TKO of Samoan Pele Faumui on former All Black Va'aiga Tuigamala's Triple Thriller card.

The fight was stopped due to an injury to Faumui's shoulder, but not before an active Jackson dropped him with a vicious punch to the body.

"He pulled out due to a hurt shoulder, but I hit him with a left body rip that put him down just before he gave up," Jackson said. "The early rounds went well. Right from the first round I came out all guns blazing taking it to him."

Taking the fight on good notice was a nice change from his previous encounter with controversial Australian Anthony Mundine, with the Chris Walker trained fighter using the extra time to work on his explosive power.

"It's a good feeling, we've been working hard on my strength and conditioning to get stronger.

"We had more time to prepare this time round. It made a huge difference in my performance to be able to get the result."

Jackson, who in regaining the middleweight strap climbed back into the top 15 in the WBO rankings, wants to be back in the ring in the next couple of months.

"I'm going to have a week off and spend time with my family. I'm not sure what our plans are just yet, but we want to defend the WBO title either here in Tauranga or Auckland.

"I have had a couple of opportunities in Australia but turned them down because it clashed with my fight."

Jackson believed boxing's increasing profile in this country provides more opportunities for fighters, raising the question over whether New Zealand fighters should risk their records across the ditch.

"The pluses in Australia is good exposure, tough competition and also better purses.

"But the minuses there are you are also fighting against the judges.

"New Zealand boxing is starting to get more of a following now, which is good for myself and up and coming fighters."