Joshua Buatsi left no doubt about the result on Saturday in Manchester, England.
The light heavyweight contender from London landed a monster right hand to the chin of Daniel Dos Santos that instantaneously ended their fight in the fourth round of a scheduled 10-rounder.
Buatsi (14-0, 12 KOs) put Dos Santos (15-1, 8 KOs) down with a barrage of shots in Round 2, after which the slick Frenchman was able to stick, move and survive for a while.
Then, with Dos Santos’ back against the ropes, Buatsi connected on the right hand and followed with another quick right as Dos Santos crumpled to the canvas.
Referee Victor Loughlin didn’t have to count; Dos Santos was out. The official time was 2:44 of Round 4.
“He was awkward for a few rounds. I just landed the shot at the right time,” Buatsi said.
The native of Ghana added that the big punch was the result of following trainer Virgil Hunter’s instructions.
“I came to the corner. [Hunter] said look downstairs and hit upstairs, look upstairs and hit downstairs,” Buatsi said. “I chose the first one. I looked downstairs and I thought, ‘We’re going on top.’ And it landed.”
Buatsi has now stopped nine consecutive opponents.