Undefeated American Samuel Arnold III continued his rise in the super middleweight division with a dominant first-round knockout of Argentina’s Fernando Ezequiel “Manzana” Farías. The bout took place Friday, January 30, in Long Beach, California, with Arnold’s WBA NABA title on the line.

Standing at an imposing 6-foot-3, Arnold wasted no time putting his physical advantages to use. After a brief feeling-out process, the Texan unleashed a crushing body shot to the liver that sent the Junín native crashing to the canvas.

Despite Farías’ experience on the international stage, the impact of the punch was decisive. The referee administered the count, but the fight was effectively over, bringing a swift end to the contest.

With the victory, Arnold III improves his record to a perfect 15-0, including 10 knockouts, and closes another successful chapter in his run as regional champion. Farías, meanwhile, drops to 13 wins, 4 losses and 3 draws.

The first-round stoppage further boosts Arnold’s standing in the World Boxing Association rankings, where he is now knocking on the door of the top tier in the super middleweight division.