Michael Katsidis has marked his return to Australian boxing with a ferocious display of power-punching, stopping Michael Lozada in the third round with a sensational left-rip.
Katsidis was the aggressor for every minute of the contest, working the Mexican's body at every opportunity and unloading over the top with heavy artillery.
Stepping up to junior welterweight after years campaigning at lightweight, Katsidis had been out to test if his power would carry into the heavier division, and with the result he received his answer.
The final punch dug deep, finding the liver and blasting the air from the lungs - and after a short delay the pain hit, sending Lozada to the canvas in a crumpled heap.
The visitor came to the fight with a record of 38-8-1 with 30 knockouts to his credit, but he had no answers for the former interim world champion, hardly landing a significant shot in any round.
Following a massively fan-friendly undercard, the main event was a great showpiece for the small but raucous crowd at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
Katsidis took a measured approach out of the gates, throwing his shots one at time with serious intent behind each, while the Mexican flicked the jab and employed a high guard when the Australian came forward.
But it took no time at all for him to warm to his task and show his power, opening up at the end of the first round with a series of vicious rips to the body, heavy left hooks and looping overhand rights.
It was more of the same in the second as the hometown favourite found a home with the hook to the body and then dropped him with the right, only to have referee Adrian Cairns rule the fall a slip.
In the main support, Commonwealth gold medallist Jarrod Fletcher was put through a tough and valuable test, forced to battle through cuts above both eyes before eventually prevailing with a points decision over the super-tough Arnel Tinampay.
Australian light welterweight champion Jack Asis pulled off a popular upset in the penultimate undercard fight, trapping the highly favoured and well-credentialed Nestor Rocha in the second round and hammering away until the towel came in from the American's corner.
Earlier, Brayd Smith, son of Katsidis' trainer Brendon, made turned in an impressive debut showing a nice arsenal of punches and a strong, long right hand to stop Dave Smith in the first round.
Contender contestant Israel Kani scored a fourth round TKO over an outmatched, but game, Chris Fox in the first bout of the evening.