Jeff Horn silenced domestic rival Anthony Mundine with a stunning first-round knockout in their catchweight grudge match on Friday.
Veteran 43-year-old Mundine vowed to upset his fellow Australian in what he says is his last fight, suggesting last month that Horn "better go back to school teaching or something".
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But it took just 96 seconds for former WBO welterweight champion Horn to dispose of his polarising rival, a series of straight shots early in the bout followed by a flurry of punches and finished with a stinging left hook.
It was a particularly sweet moment for Horn, who lost his WBO belt to Terence Crawford in June and now has a 19-1-1 record, after an ill-tempered build-up that included Mundine, who retires with a 48-9 record, grabbing his rival and shoving him at Thursday's weigh-in.
Horn can now reflect on another memorable evening at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, where he shockingly defeated Manny Pacquiao to become WBO champion 16 months ago.
Statement made.
— Aus-Boxing.com (@ausboxing) November 30, 2018
Jeff Horn solidifies his place as Australia’s best, halting Anthony Mundine in the opening round #ozboxing #boxing pic.twitter.com/ZgXnRRhbEf
Before the fight, Horn suggested that he may target a rematch with Crawford but after the bout said his options remain open.
"I was expecting a tough fight from 'Choc'. I think he probably put it all in, all the beforehand stuff, it was a real big build-up, I guess got my adrenaline going, but I feel really, really strong at this weight," he said.
"I was expecting a hard fight. We'll see what opportunities come. That's all we can do. I might stay at super-welter, light-middle, who knows? I'll see what opportunities we get."
