Rising New Zealand heavyweight Junior Fa has scored the most impressive victory of his career, knocking out American Fred Latham in the first round of their fight in the United States today.
Fa's win in Ohio in front of his influential promoter Lou DiBella came after only 67 seconds and left Latham, who had been backed into a corner, in a bad state.
The trouble for the previously undefeated Latham began almost immediately when Fa scored with a beautifully-timed one-two which backed his opponent against the ropes and the New Zealander wasted little time in taking advantage of his dominance.
Fa's hand-speed and punch selection were both very impressive as he poured on the pressure in a rain of blows. Referee Clifford Pinkney had no option but to stop the fight and perhaps could have stopped it earlier as Latham caught successive blows on the chin at the end which left him slumped against the ropes.
Fa's undefeated record improves to 13 victories (eight knockouts), and this was a significant one because it showed his improvement. Fa declared himself unhappy with his last performance, a unanimous decision over six rounds against Australian journeyman Hunter Sam in Auckland.