Jai Opetaia has shown his brutality over five rounds against Italian Claudio Squeo, breaking his jaw to win by KO.
The Australian was cautious in the first round before proving his ability in the second by landing a number of blows. He upped the ante again in the third round as his rival started to back up.
"The intensity has dialled right up ... cracks starting to appear in the Italian as Jai Opetaia starts to put the foot down," caller Ben Damon said on DAZN.
In the fourth round a moment of controversy struck when Squeo was dropped by a body blow. Referee Robert Hoyle ruled he'd been held with Squeo signalling it was a low blow.
The crowd booed as the replay showed he was hit in the chest.
By the fifth round it was all over as Opetaia hit Squeo with a right hook, dropping him to his knees as the referee counted down before calling the fight.
"It was a matter of time ... he had things all his way throughout against a tough Italian who eventually wilted," Damon said.
The win means Opetaia defends his IBF and Ring cruiserweight titles.
Minutes after the result, news then spread that Squeo had likely broken his jaw.
"He grabs his jaw, he knew it was hurt straight away," Ted Cofie said on commentary.
Opetaia now continues his push for unification of the cruiserweight division as he tries to fight Gilberto "Zurdo" Ramirez, who has the WBA and WBO titles.
Post-fight, the Australian simply said "I was in a rush".
"I really wanted to get him out of here, I'm chasing these unification fights and it's frustrating," he said.
Opetaia thanked the crowd and the support he'd received from the Pacific Islands and Australia.
The 29-year-old then stared down the camera and issued Ramirez a message: "let's get it on."
Opetaia and his management have been unable to agree to a fight yet with Ramirez's camp. Ramirez fights on the undercard of Jake Paul's upcoming battle in Los Angeles.
"I believe I'm the best boxer in the cruiserweight division and that's all I want to prove, so let's make the fight happen," Opetaia said.
"Anywhere, any time, just pick up the phone."
