Zappavigna blasts Kim out in 1

By Sean Castle and Jason Archbold at ringside: Destructive Sydneysider Leonardo Zappavigna confirmed his shot at the IBF lightweight boxing world title by defeating Korean Ji-Hoon Kim in a devastating first round TKO in the main support to Daniel Geale-Roman Karmazin in Homebush, Sydney on Sunday.
Kim (21-7), who recently went the distance with world champion Miguel Vazquez in a world title bout, left the ring a shattered man after the brutal 90 second beating inflicted by the Australian.

Zappavigna (24-0) started like a whirlwind and attacked from the onset, using his much greater physical strength to man-handle his much more slightly built opponent and connected with a savage overhand right that collected the Korean flush, dropping him. Kim bravely got up and took the standing eight-count but the fight was as good as over as Zappavigna again went after his man, dropping him for the second time.

American referee Wayne Kelly had good reason to stop the fight then but allowed Kim to take his second count of the round before the Aussie moved in to further maul his opponent before the fight was finally stopped at 1:41 in the first round.

Most people ringside believed they were looking at the future world champion in Zappavigna as he aims to add the IBF title to his IBO championship.


Photo By James Robertson – Smooth Rumble Photography