The potential danger of corporate boxing matches has been revealed in confronting footage of an Auckland man's knockout seconds into his first ever fight.
Joel Rea was seriously concussed on August 25, just eight seconds into his heavyweight bout at Auckland's ABA Stadium in a corporate event run by Peach Boxing gym.
The 36-year-old spent minutes on the canvas completely unconscious, and was hospitalised for several days at Auckland City Hospital undergoing a number CT scans to check for bleeding on the brain.
Rea has not returned to work since the fight a week ago, and is set to see a therapist next week to asses the severity of his concussion and the extent of brain injury.
His long-term memory since the fight has had many gaps, forgetting details about his children's lives, and it is possible he will suffer lifelong side effects from the concussion.