Australian super lightweight Stevie Spark landed his punches then nailed the landing after he was tackled out of the ring by his disqualified opponent in a dramatic US debut victory.
The 25-year-old Spark, plucked from Toowoomba by British promoter Eddie Hearn to join his Matchroom Boxing team, moved to 16-2 thanks to the bizarre sixth-round antics of hometown favourite Montana Love in Cleveland.
Spark had already knocked down Love in the second round and was on top in the fight when he was tackled towards the ropes and flipped into the crowd.
The Australian landed on both feet, smiled, walked back into the ring and was awarded the WBA intercontinental super-lightweight belt.
Love, 27, carried a 18-0-1 record into the fight and had designs on the IBF world title.
But the manner of his first career defeat has thrown those plans into jeopardy.
It was Spark’s fourth-straight win since returning to super-lightweight after earning respect for jumping up two weight classes to take on Tim Tszyu on short notice last July.
He recently signed with Hearn, who boasts world champions Oleksandr Usyk and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in his stable and held his first card in Brisbane earlier this year.
Nick Lindenberg
Roar Rookie
Brilliant job by Stevie, outboxed him completely. Love knew he was beaten, was looking for a way out and lost his temper. Whatever the outcome of the appeal, Montana Love has lost respect in the Boxing community and Stevie Spark has seen his stock price rise dramatically.