Sonny Bill Williams took just 2 mins 54 secs to stop his opponent. But some in the crowd who paid up to $100 felt it was money well spent.
And with a pay-per-view bill of $39.95, the boxing bout cost Sky subscribers $13.77 a minute - or 22c a second.
A left hook set up a flurry of punches for SBW to add a heavyweight title to his sporting resume, knocking out Clarence Tillman III with just seconds remaining in the first round.
The All Black is now the holder of the New Zealand Professional Boxing Association's heavyweight title after the technical knockout at Claudelands Arena in Hamilton last night.
A jubilant SBW was joined in the ring by his friend Anthony Mundine, another former league star, and shared an awkward kiss with his girlfriend, Jaime Ridge.
