Boxing: Manu Vatuvei targets Paul Gallen after stunning knockout on professional debut

Manu Vatuvei landing an uppercut against Dave Letele. Photo / Photosport

Manu Vatuvei marked his professional boxing debut with a devastating first-round stoppage last night and has signalled his intentions to fight Australian league player Paul Gallen.

Fighting on the undercard of Joseph Parker's victory over Alexander Flores in Christchurch last night, Vatuvei knocked out Dave Letele after only 28 seconds.

The 32-year-old Vatuvei, who credits boxing for giving him new motivation after returning from England injured and overweight, showed impressive power and timing to blast out the experienced Letele.

Vatuvei was probably too relaxed at the start and was caught with a right hand but the way he dismantled Letele with a stunning combination, including a vicious uppercut, suggests he can go a long way in his new sport.

His league career is in the balance after being let go by the Warriors and having been affected recently by injuries, including an Achilles problem, but new opportunities have suddenly presented themselves.

The man known for his finishing ability on the league field is likely to have few issues with his power in the ring. Letele, who had 19 professional fights before stepping into the ring with Vatuvei, was knocked half out of it by the end.

A trans-Tasman fight against Gallen would be a promoter's dream and would represent a very good pay day for former Kiwi and Warriors star Vatuvei, and he showed enthusiasm for the prospect.

"He's a massive test and a person I'd love to test myself against," Vatuvei said after receiving loud and sustained applause from the Horncastle Arena crowd. "He's got the experience, power and fitness to go all the way. It's something I want to do but I need a lot more experience and fights to get where he is."

Gallen, 37, has fought eight times as a professional since 2014 while this was only Vatuvei's second fight and first as a professional.

"It's been a long road," Vatuvei, who weighed in at a trim-looking 116.35kg after blowing out at 129kg at his heaviest recently. "All the hard work I put in paid off and now I can relax.

"At the start he caught me with a good shot – a right hand … I had to regather myself and come back at him. I caught him real well and took my time."

He said he wasn't sure when he would get back in the ring. It is understood that an Australian promoter has offered Vatuvei a five-fight contract but that it was dependent on how he looked against Letele. It appears that the first test has been passed.

"I'm going to see how things go," he said. "It's a good start. Hopefully some opportunities come up and we'll go from there."