World ranked welterweight Jeff Horn of Australia has stopped higher rated African boxer Richmond Djarbeng in three rounds in Palmerston North, New Zealand. Horn is hoping for a top ten position after blasting higher-ranked opponent aside in three rounds.

Horn 27, improved to 10-0-1, with 8 KOs with an emphatic performance in his first fight following a six-month layoff caused by a broken hand.

He dropped the WBA 11th ranked fighter and WBA Pan African champion once in the second round and twice in the third.

It was Djarbeng's first loss in almost nine years following a run of 19 straight wins.

Looking light on his feet and relaxed, WBA 15th-ranked Horn dictated terms with his speed and power.

In the New Zealand city of Palmerston North, the WBA Oriental and PABA welterweight title holder landed the two best shots of the opening round, a cracking left to the head followed later by a strong right.

Djarbeng (19-3-1, 15 KOs) tried to hold to prevent Horn hitting him, but was floored 40 seconds from the end of the second round by a left hook and a follow up right.

He was floored again halfway through the third and again a few seconds later, after which Australian referee Brad Vocale stopped the bout.

Two other Australian-based fighters on the undercard suffered convincing defeats against former New Zealand Commonwealth Games representatives.

Gold Coast resident Luke Travers (2-2, 1 KO) was dropped twice and stopped in the second round by Bowyn Morgan (4-0, 2 KOs)in a junior middleweight contest.

And Adelaide-based Nigerian Friday Nwaiwu (3-6-1, 0 KOs) was knocked out in the second round of a super middleweight bout by a crunching left hand from Joe Blackbourn (9-0-1, 9 KOs), who he drew with in their first bout back in March.