Olympic boxing heavyweight Teremoana Teremoana unleashed a "sickening" uppercut to defeat Bowie Tupou via knockout in devastating fashion in Melbourne on Wednesday night.
In the main event of the Matchroom Boxing promotion, another Australian Olympian, Skye Nicolson, delivered a clinical unanimous-decision victory over New Zealand's Mariah Turner to retain the interim WBC super bantamweight title.
Teremoana, a brutal brawler from Brisbane, forced his rival onto the ropes in the opening minute of their fight and landed a series of heavy blows to the head.
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The winning, arena-shaking moment came barely a minute into the first round, when the Paris 2024 Olympian struck Tupou's chin with a thumping uppercut that knocked him to the floor and sent his eyes rolling into the back of his head.
"Oh my goodness, oh my goodness," said Fox Sports commentator Ben Damon.
"A brutal knockout.
"Bowie Tupou – he went down violently and scarily.
"Jeez, that uppercut came from another world. That is just sickening stuff, that uppercut."
Tupou was treated with caution after crumpling to the floor. Eventually helped to his feet by his team, he was staggering around as he tried to walk.
Teremoana – a 198cm, 121kg powerhouse of Cook Islands heritage – took his professional boxing record to 11-0.
Asked if his uppercut was the best punch he'd ever thrown, he replied with a grin: "It's one of the punches I've thrown in the boxing ring."
He gave a nod to Tupou – and delivered another emphatic statement.
"I've gotta give it up to Bowie Tupuo," he said.
"He's the man.
"I've been asking for the Aussie title, I've been asking for challenges, but this fella stepped in the ring.
"Obviously, I showed I'm levels above. I believe I'm world championship material. So I'm gonna take it one step at a time until I get the world title."
Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn said Teremoana's uppercut was "one of the scariest knockouts" he'd ever seen.
"I mean, this guy's got devastating power," said the top English promoter.
"We know there's levels above Bowie, too, but these are the kind of opponents you have to go through on the way to the top.
"They're the kind of opponents that you hope will give you rounds. You're not going to do rounds with Teremoana Teremoana."
Hearn is bullish about just how much potential the 28-year-old juggernaut has.
"What you're watching right now … is a future world heavyweight champion, and if you can have that guy from Australia, this is gonna be a huge star."
Teremoana walked out for his fight dancing to music. He was still dancing upon his entry to the ring.
After the fight, he performed a rousing rendition of a Cook Islands war dance.
"He's not just got the personality, he's not just got the dance moves; he can really, really fight, and he's got power in both hands, he's a giant of a man," Hearn said.
"And he's got a smile that'll light up the room, as well, so get on this journey. We wanna box him all over Australia."
Nicolson was a clear standout over 10 rounds against Turner.
"I want super fights, I want to be undisputed champion of the world," Nicolson said, her belt draping over her shoulder.
"I've been very vocal about that for a long time … and now I'm ready to take over."
Asked if she had another boxer in her sights, she called out a star 28-year-old fighter from England.
"Ellie Scotney," she said.
"You've got all the belts, I'm next in line, let's make it happen for the fans."
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