Hopman's first win in real style

AGGRESSION: Zane Hopman strikes with a kick to the head of Joe Boobyer and then walks away as his rival drops to the canvas.PHOTOS/DEX FIGHT

Gun Masterton kickboxer Zane Hopman has chalked up his first win in the professional ranks in style.

Up against Englishman Joe Boobyer in a 91kg heavyweight bout at the national trials in Auckland last weekend Hopman, from the Masterton-based Fortitude Thai Boxing Club, took just 2mins 46secs to knock out his opponent with a kick to the head.

Boobyer is no mug as he holds the WMF world heavyweight title, has represented England and has achieved numerous notable victories in his 48-fight career.

On experience he had a huge advantage over Hopman who was having just his third professional bout after chalking up a sequence of 15 wins as an amateur, the highlight of which was his success in the heavyweight division at the WMC IMFA world champs in Malaysia last year.

Hopman's trainer Bryce Baron said his charge went into his latest fight keen to prove that defeats in the first two of his professional bouts were no reflection of his ability to achieve success at that level.

On both those occasions a sluggish start had proved costly and so the emphasis this time was on taking an assertive approach from the word go.

"We wanted to make an early statement. We knew that Boobyer's greater experience would make him more dangerous the longer the fight went on," Baron said

Hopman carried out the game plan to perfection, using his technical skills to take the battle to Boobyer and eventually working himself into a position from where he could strike the winning blow.

"He fought very intelligently, he picked his shots well and never really looked in any trouble," Baron said of Hopman.

"He did exactly what we planned, it was impressive."

Hopman will fight for New Zealand at the world Muay Thai championships in Thailand next year but may still have a couple more professional bouts before then.