Tim Tszyu didn't need very long to end 2020 on a high note.

The rising junior middleweight contender made quick work of New Zealand's Bowyn Morgan, scoring a pair of knockdowns en route to a 1st round knockout Wednesday evening at Bankwest Stadium in Parramatta, Australia. 

Tzzyu floored Morgan twice within a span of mere seconds, the latter of the two immediately producing a halt to the contest at 1:54 of round one. 

In a year where most in the industry were forced to fight behind closed doors—if even at all—Tszyu managed his second ring appearance in front of a sizable crowd during the pandemic. The second-generation boxer—whose father Kostya Tszyu was a Hall of Fame former lineal junior welterweight champion—entered the ring on the heels of a celebrated 8th round stoppage of countryman Jeff Horn this past August in Townsville, Australia.

Wednesday's event was far more destructive, as Morgan was clearly out of his depth from the opening bell. The 31-year old from Christchurch, New Zealand entered the ring riding a 14-fight win streak, though nothing nearly on the level of what he would face in this contest. 

Tszyu fought as his usual measured pace, sifting through a sea of Morgan jabs to find a home for his right hand. The 26-year old Sydney native would find early success with his right uppercut, which would eventually break down a willful but outgunned Morgan. 

It was a pair of body shots, however, which ignited the sequence for the bout's first knockdown. 

Tszyu effortlessly dodged a Morgan left uppercut from long range to connect with a right hook to the body, pushing his foe into desired position to finish the job. A right uppercut downstairs followed by an overhand right and left hook forced Morgan to cover up, only for Tszyu to split the guard with a masterfully placed right uppercut to the chin. Two right hands and a left hook—all upstairs—followed to produce the bout's first knockdown.

Morgan (21-2, 11KOs) beat the count of referee John Cauchi, if only to show his fighting heart. Tszyu would make him regret that decision, slamming home a long overhand right mere seconds later to send Morgan crashing to the canvas. The referee immediately waved off the fight, with Tszyu standing center ring to admire his surroundings.

Tszyu storms to 17-0 (13KOs) with the win, having now scored three straight knockouts dating back to a 4th round stoppage of Jack Brubaker last December in Sydney. 

Next up for the rising junior middleweight contender could be a spot on the biggest fight to hit Australia in years. Tszyu's team is in talks to land as the chief support to a still-discussed clash between lineal lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez and unbeaten mandatory challenger George Kambosos Jr., which is being eyed for next April in Sydney or Melbourne.

Tszyu's name was also once linked to rumors of pursuing a first career title fight of his own, versus reigning 154-pound titlist Patrick Teixeira (31-1, 22KOs) who next faces Brian Castaño (16-0-1, 12KOs) next February. Such talks were premature given Teixeira's mandatory title defense obligation, though it is clear that he is on the doorstep of warranting such an opportunity in the year ahead. 

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox