Quade Cooper wins by TKO with flashy hands too fast and powerful for martial arts veteran

QUADE Cooper's fast hands stormed "The Fortress" when he floored Newcastle's martial arts veteran Warren Tresidder.

WALLABY Quade Cooper's fast hands stormed "The Fortress" in his second fight when he floored Newcastle's martial arts veteran Warren Tresidder.

Cooper flew out of his corner for the fourth round and knocked down his 40-year-old rival with the best combination of punches of the fight to end it by TKO 34 seconds into the final stanza at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

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Athletic, quick and a big punch to go with the big pass he throws in rugby, Cooper was poised and improved on his ring debut a year ago because his jab and defence were vastly superior.

Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie and Queensland Reds counterpart Richard Graham sat together at ringside and will breath a sigh of relief that their prized five-eighth did not cop a crunching body shot or a haymaker on the jaw.

There was little chance of that from Warren "The Fortress" Tresidder, a shaven-headed journeyman with no heavy, destructive punch.

Wallabies coach Ewen McKenzie and Reds boss Richard Graham watch on to support their player.

Tresidder's background in martial arts and cage fighting meant he would most likely have beaten up Cooper if the match-up was in the car park with karate-style kicks, headlocks and anything-goes rules.

In the ring, Tresidder was exactly as he looked, a game, experienced 40-year-old who tried to crowd Cooper with a few early flurries.

Cooper was cautious in the opening round, flicking his left jab at Tresidder's face. He followed in the left with some heavy, scoring right hands in an impressive second round that drew roars from just about the entire Queensland Reds squad ringside.

"He's got a good chin on him. I had to step it up," Cooper said of his improvement in 12 months.

"I've definitely been working on getting the guard up and everything does come from the jab I've been improving."

Cooper catches Tresidder with a straight left as he cocks his right for a follow-up punch.

Australian Rugby Union supremo Bill Pulver has flagged that boxing might be ruled out in Cooper's next contract negotiation but the value is obvious.

Why? Off-seasons had always been Cooper's enemy because idleness equated to boozy dramas. No more. He's settled, focused and the fight training clearly benefits his rugby and confidence.

Cooper calls his boxing "a great escape" from football pressures and "I'd love to continue to do it."

McKenzie is convinced Cooper's boxing over the past two off-seasons has added discipline to his life.

Cooper ended his first fight a year ago with a big right hand which finished insurance agent Barry Dunnett just 2 min 59sec into the fight.

It gave a hint of his fast hands and feet but also a big glimpse of a chin as inviting as a dartboard for a boxer with a punch to test it out.

James Horwill, Ben Tapuai, Rod Davies and Will Genia at ringside to watch their teammate fight.

Dunnett did not know what hit him that night. Nor did Tresidder when the end came.

The Reds could not support their team-mate last year because they were playing a trial on the Sunshine Coast at the same time. Last night, there was almost a full roll call.

Liam Gill, Ben Tapuai, Rod Davies, James Horwill and co all urged Cooper on. Will Genia had even feted wife Vanessa to flowers and treats for her birthday earlier in the day before the finale ... a night at the fights.

Cooper hasn't missed a Reds session because of it and Genia, for one, has seen the plusses close up.

"It's a tricky one. Quade is in the best shape he's been," Genia said.

"He has a love and passion for boxing. He has found a way to balance both at the moment and boxing has given him more confidence."