Joseph Parker’s dynamic hand speed and power destroyed veteran Kali Meehan inside three rounds of their heavyweight clash in Auckland on Thursday night.
After dominating the opening two rounds, Parker put away the veteran with a stunning combination one minute into the third round.
He set it up with a straight left and finished it off with a powerful overhand right.
Meehan struggled to get up off the canvas and wobbled against the ropes with referee Ferlin Marsh waving the finish for a TKO.
Parker, the 23-year-old who is ranked No 6 with the WBO, No 13 with the WBA and No 14 with the WBC, should get a further boost off the back of this result.
He added the WBC’s Eurasia Pacific Boxing Council’s heavyweight belt and the WBA’s Oceania title to his collection.
Parker is now undefeated over 16 professional fights.
The 45-year-old Meehan will be left to consider his future. His bright renaissance in New Zealand over the last year that saw him win the Super 8 title and end Shane Cameron’s celebrated career dimmed with this result, just his sixth loss in 48 fights in a pro career that started in 1997.
He just couldn’t handle the pace Parker presented.
Meehan’s early shots were well read and easily avoided by Parker who then countered with speed to clearly take the first round.
Meehan was the early aggressor in the second round but his desire to engage Parker in close contact drew instant problems for him with Parker rocking him twice on the ropes. Meehan hung tough to see his way through to the bell.
But Parker was all aggression in the third round, taking Meehan to his corner and then dealing out the punishment as he moved left.
Parker has to back up quickly, fighting as the feature man on the Fight For Life promotion in Hamilton on December 5. Next week he heads to Samoa to confirm a fight there in January that will kick off a busy 2016.