By Ronnie Nathanielsz

In a bizarre twist to a heavyweight boxing bout at the Blacktown RSL Club in Sydney, Australia, Royce Sio who was making his pro debut in a four round encounter against big Solomon Haumono, knocked out Haumono in 15 seconds then fled as the fighter he knocked out was declared the winner.

That’s because Sio, a church-going former kick boxer charged towards his giant opponent who lay on the canvas and unleashed two more heavy blows according to boxing writer Christian Nicolussi of the Australian Daily Telegraph, leaving referee Brian McMahon no choice but to disqualify Sio.
 
The ringside account of the fight said Sio originally sent Haumono who had a record of 14 knockouts in 15 wins with one draw,  flying with a fierce overhead right.
 
A correctional officer at a juvenile detention center, the Daily Telegraph said Sio confessed “adrenalin” had gotten the better of him and that he meant his opponent no harm. He said “it’s a full contact sport, its not marbles and in the end adrenalin got the better of me.”
 
According to Sio he was rushed out of the venue by matchmaker Lincoln Hudson who feared a potential backlash from Samoan and Tongan supporters of Haumono in the crowd of some 800 fight fans.
 
Sio  said he was “embarrassed about what happened. I hold no grudge against the bro, but people came to see a fight.” He said people in the crowd said what he did was a cowardly act but Sio remarked “you have to
be in the ring to know how it feels.”
 
He also claimed that the referee wasn’t in front of him to send him to a neutral corner adding “as far as I was concerned, the fight was still on.”
 
Boxing writer Nicolussi reported that after being hammered, the 33 year old Haumono staggered back to his feet to have his arm raised as the winner since Sio was disqualified.
 
Haumono said he was disappointed at not being given a chance to stand up and continue fighting. His trainer Johnny Lewis who has been in boxing for over 50 years said he had never seen such sensational scenes. He said “I was bending over to get my medical kit and when I looked up Sol was on his back. He looked like he was going to get up when the yoing kid came over and hit him twice. I can’t really understand why it happened. He (Sio)  ended up jumping out of the ring.
 
Sio is hoping Haumono will consider giving him a rematch..