Boxing: Ryder knocks out Slater

Cameron Slater reacts after being knocked out by Jesse Ryder during Super8 Fight Night on March 28, 2015 in Christchurch, New Zealand. Photo / Getty Image.

Jesse Ryder made light work of blogger Cameron Slater with a first-round knockout victory in their celebrity boxing bout at the Super 8 event in Christchurch tonight.

Slater, who shed 17kg in training for the bout, was never in the contest against a sharp-looking Ryder, who knocked him down within the first minute and finished the job shortly after.

Ryder, a former Black Cap, had experience in the ring having beat radio host Mark Watson via TKO in 2012, while Slater was fighting for the first time

Later, Brian Minto (41-8) will meet Israel Adesanya (2-1) in the final of the Super 8 cruiserweight knockout tournament.

Minto beat Australia's Daniel Ammann (31-9-1) in the semifinal having previously edged Monty Filimaea (10-12-1) in the quarters.

Adesanya topped Lance Bryant (4-2) in the other semi via majority decision. Adesanya knocked out Asher Derbyshire (7-2) in the second round of his quarter-final.

Kiwi-trained Samoan Vaitele Soi (24-1) will also challenge Australian Anthony McCracken (17-7-1) for a collection of regional titles over 10 rounds in the night's headline bout.
Earlier, former league hardman Monty Betham moved to 7-1 as a professional after he beat ex-English cricketer Adam Hollioake (2-2) via fourth-round TKO in a cruiserweight bout.

Hollioake pursued the fight with Betham via social media and found himself on the end of some hefty punishment from Betham.

The Englishman tasted the canvas in the fourth and the fight was stopped shortly after following another flurry of punches from Betham.

At 37, Betham said he would be happy to fight on if the right opponent presented itself, while he also took inspiration from a good luck text message from Black Caps opener Martin Guptill.

"That gave me a big lift because [here's] someone who's got the biggest game of his life coming up and he takes the time out to text me and make sure I'm going well, that's huge," Betham said.

In the opening bout of the night, Auckland heavyweight prospect Hemi Ahio (5-0) kept his unbeaten record intact after he defeated Clarence Tillman (11-20-2) via TKO.
Tillman, a 37-year-old journeyman, dislocated his shoulder during the opening frame - which Ahio comfortably won - and didn't come out for the second round.