Wollongong boxer wins Oceania title

Wollongong boxer Nathan "Cav" Wright won't be able take opponents by surprise any longer after a three-round demolition of Tamworth's Brendan Saunders for the IBO Oceania lightweight title last week.

Saunders was a narrow favourite heading into the bout having boxed more professional rounds but was overwhelmed by Wright, who bounced up from a flash knockdown in round two to finish the fight in round three of a scheduled 12.

The stoppage gives Wright an impressive KO ratio of 50 per cent and proved he has the power to stop anyone in the division.

"Our plan was to get the stoppage inside the first five rounds," Wright said.

"All my previous fights I'd probably boxed a lot more but we wanted to show that we bring more to the table and I think it caught him by surprise.

"I caught him the first round and I could tell I'd hurt him.

"He dropped me in the second but I wasn't hurt and I thought I'd finish him in round two but I knew he was in a bad way, so I was happy to stop him in the third."

After making a late entry to pro ranks, 32-year-old Wright isn't planning on slowing down.

"I'm on the older side for most starting out pros, so I want to move as quick as possible," Wright said.

"We're looking to stay with the IBO and move up the rankings there. I like the organisation, it's growing and if you look at the names that have had IBO titles - you've got Mayweather, Pacquiao, Golovkin, so I want to stay with it and pursue it as far as I can."

Wright and coach Chris Davey are currently in negotiations with an overseas opponent for the IBO's Asia-Pacific title and the win also puts Wright in contention for potential Aussie super-fights with rising stars George Kambosos and Valentine Borg.

"A lot of people are speculating how a fight with a George Kambosos or a Val Borg would go, so he's started to move into that league.

"I was confident he had the ability but we had to prove that.

"Getting in and pulling off the stoppage in the first five rounds was what he needed to be taken seriously," he said.

Wright's victory was part of a fight night that put Wollongong boxing back on the map with Bulli middleweight Steve Psaras earning a shot at the NSW super-middleweight title with a decision victory over Ehsan Shakeri.

Junior-welterweight Mick Mlacic will be looking for a rematch with Sydney's Jese Ravudi after their state title bout ended in a technical draw.