Jai Opetaia made a successful defence of his IBF cruiserweight title at Gold Coast Convention Centre in Broadbeach, Australia.
Opetaia did largely as he pleased before knocking Claudio Squeo out in round five of their contest.
Opetaia (28-0, KO22) was in action last in January, knocking David Nyika out in four in a fun firefight, and was in his second spell as IBF champion.
Italy’s Squeo (17-1, KO9) arrived in Australia ranked number 14 by the IBF, but had only previously gone ten rounds once, so this was a tall order for the visitor.
It was a patient opening by both in the first round, but the champion had the control, and he opened up at the end of the second as Squeo struggled to truly leave his mark.
The Italian decided to fight fire with fire, and Opetaia was getting the better of the exchanges in round three, with a left hand to the body troubling the Italian.
Squeo was hanging on somewhat, and he was being hunted down, a short left uppercut to the body had him on the canvas in round four, but it was ruled hitting and holding by the referee.
That was the catalyst for Opetaia to close the show, and with Squeo sending out distress signals, a massive right hand connecting to his head at the start of the fifth, and he sank to the canvas, where he was then counted out.
Remaining Undercard
Tyler Blizzard (10-0, KO4) took the vacant IBF Pan Pacific featherweight crown, as he took a ten-round points win against Rocky Ogden (7-3, KO5).
Welterweight prospect Danny Keating (10-0, KO5) won all ten rounds against the tough Blake Minto (16-7-2, KO4).
Conor Wallace (16-1, KO11) had to work hard to secure a points win over eight against Dylan Colin (14-2, KO4) in their light heavyweight contest.
Two scores of 77-75, and a third at 78-74 ensured the Irishman took the win.
At super middleweight, Max McIntyre (8-0, KO7) kicked off the main portion of the card, and he scored a sixth-round stoppage win in his battle of unbeatens against Ricaia Warren (5-1, KO4).
Austin Aokuso (9-0, KO3) dropped Ike from Pluto (2-1, KO0) heavily in the fifth round of their six-rounder at light heavyweight, but had to settle for a points win by scores of 60-53, 59-53 and 58-55.
Mariah Turner (10-1, KO5) was crowned Australian featherweight champion, taking the vacant title by defeating Leah Reuben (1-2-1, KO1) on the scorecards.
In an entertaining fight, Turner was declared the winner by one score of 80-72, and two at 77-75.
The pair had met two months previously, with Turner again winning on points.
Xavier Fletcher (6-0, KO4) was a second-round winner against Alivereti Dodomo (4-8, KO3) at super middleweight.
Matt Floyd (15-2, KO10) was upset over four rounds, dropping a decision to Jack Gregory (6-1, KO2) in their cruiserweight bout.
