By Manouk Akopyan

It was over before it ever began, as Shakhram Giyasov knocked out Darleys Perez inside thirty seconds into their fight on Saturday. 

A thunderous left hook from Giyasov in round one cleanly caught Perez, and that’s all she wrote, as Perez reluctantly and hesitantly stood to his feet before referee Francisco Laveaga saved Perez from any further lethal punishment.

Giyasov (9-0, 7 KOs), a 26-year-old 2016 Olympic silver medalist from Uzbekistan, made quick work of the decorated veteran Perez (34-5-2, 24 KOs), a 2008 Olympian who represented Colombia, before even breaking a sweat.

This was Giyasov’s first full fight training with Joel Diaz, who was a 20-to-1 betting favorite favorite. He returned to the ring for the third time this year. In April, he secured a win against the veteran Emanuel Taylor, and in February, was also in the win column against Edgar Puerta.

Perez, a former lightweight WBA interim titlist, had lost to the likes of Yuriorkis Gamboa, Anthony Crolla, Luke Campbell and the late Maxim Dadashev. He’s also fought to draws with Maurice Hooker and Crolla. Perez fell to 2-4-1 in his last seven fights.

The fight was featured on the undercard for the main event between WBC junior bantamweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada, who was taking on Dewayne Beamon at the Centro de Usos Multiples arena in Hermosillo, Mexico. It aired as part of Matchroom Boxing’s showcase on DAZN and Sky Sports.

Manouk Akopyan has been a member of the Boxing Writers Assn. of America since 2011 and has written for the Los Angeles Times, USA Today, the Guardian and Philadelphia Inquirer. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan or via email at manouk.akopyan@gmail.com.