Boxing fans are always on the look out for the future stars of the sport and one may have emerged over the weekend with Teofimo Lopez producing one of the best knocks out victories seen anywhere in 2018.
The unbeaten American was having just his 11th pro fight in New York on Saturday night against Mason Menard in a fight which was meant to give the prospect a test as he continues his rise up the rankings.
What followed though was one of the moments of the year as Lopez destroyed Menard with a right hand for the ages.
The lightweight, who fights out of Las Vegas, managed to put his opponent to sleep inside the first minute of the fight in a finish which has sent shock waves around the world amongst fans of the sweet science.
Menard went into the fight as the underdog but having only only lost four of his 37 pro fights prior to this bout, he was meant to provide his 21-year-old opponent with some sort of test.
The stricken fighter was sent face first to the canvas in what can only be described as a sickening sight with the video immediately going viral around the world. The ending has seen Lopez enter the frame as a possible future opponent for Vasyl Lomachenko, who headlined the card in the Big Apple with yet another victory.
It is far too early to suggest that Lopez is in the same league as the mesmeric Ukrainian pound-for-pound king but the early signs are positive for the unbeaten lightweight and whatever he goes on to achieve, it would be a surprise if he ever produced another knock-out like this one...
