Kubrat Pulev startled Frank Mir with a big appropriate hand right before the former UFC winner was rescued by the referee in the initially spherical of their Triad Beat Regulations battle.
The Bulgarian heavyweight ruthlessly stopped Mir, who wobbled drastically into the ropes immediately after Pulev followed a crunching ideal with a cuffing left hook, and the bout was mercifully waved off.
Pulev was returning to action for the initial time considering the fact that he was stopped in the ninth round by Anthony Joshua in their earth heavyweight title combat previous December.
Below the regulations of the Triad Beat bout, both fighters wore MMA gloves and were being authorized to strike and keep in a triangular ring.
But Pulev’s outstanding punching was speedily on exhibit as a one straight correct remaining Mir unable to continue in the closing seconds of the opening spherical.
Pulev hopes to resume his boxing vocation next yr, with promoter Ivaylo Gotzev telling Sky Sports activities that he had been contacted about a fight towards British contender Joe Joyce.
“We’ve been having a ton of gives. Joe Joyce is searching for us,” Gotzev explained to Sky Sports activities.
“Kubrat is definitely not a stepping stone for no-1, so we’re heading to select and decide on our battles, and get him again to where he feels good.
“It’s all about how he needs to enter the ring and how long he needs to preserve likely for.”