Distressing scene as savage knockout of the year contender stuns boxing

A boxing star collapsed face forwards and was motionless for several minutes after a terrifying knockout of the year contender.

Richard Torrez has savagely knocked out Marco Canedo in a distressing scene on Sunday (AEST).

The rising star heavyweight — who won the silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics last year — obliterated his opponent with a four-punch combo that resulted in Canedo face-planting to the floor.

The fight was officially stopped just 44 seconds into the first round as Torrez improved his professional record to 3-0 with three knockouts.

Canedo was motionless for several minutes as the referee and medical officials came to his aid. He was eventually helped to sit up on a stool inside the ring. He was able to walk out of the ring while being supported by a doctor. According to boxing guru Dan Rafael, Torrez was then transported to hospital.

Richard Torrez absolutely destroyed Marco Antonio Canedo. Photo: Twitter.

The terrifying scene played out on the undercard of the Jose Pedraza-Richard Commey Top Rank event at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Scary replays showed Torrez, 23, appeared to land two more punches as his opponent fell to the ground already unconscious.

The combo included a monstrous right hand that snapped his opponent’s head back.

Rafael posted on Twitter the KO had been “about as vicious a KO I’ve seen in a while”, describing the combo as “explosive”.

Left hand and Torrez drops Canedo with first punch. Then slaughters him with a right and he’s gone. Massive KO1. You don’t play #boxing. pic.twitter.com/Ab70TYjYFW

— Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1) August 28, 2022

Canedo appeared to be a lamb led to the slaughter after he was also dropped to his knees just 20 seconds into the fight before the first round continued.

There were immediate suggestions, including from the promotion company itself, for the KO to be an immediate contender for KO of the year.

Originally published as Distressing scene as savage knockout of the year contender stuns boxing