His first opponent jumped off a bridge and then Shane Cameron stood helpless as the next practically took a dive as heavyweight boxing's credibility copped another low blow last night.
Cameron extended his unbeaten professional record to 19 fights at the Trusts Stadium in Waitakere with one of the easiest and least satisfying victories of his career.
The main event at the annual Fight for Life charity fundraiser was a no contest as Brazilian Jucimar Hipolito – a late replacement for hospitalised American Kelvin Davis – marked his 18-hour journey to Auckland with one minute 59 seconds of reluctant ring craft before referee Lance Revill stopped the fight before Cameron could actually cause serious damage.
Hipolito, who only accepted the fight on Monday and arrived two days later from Sao Paulo, crumbled instantly when a sharp right hand had him canvas-bound for the first of three quick fire knock-downs.
After rising from a second eight count a wobbly Hipolito looked forlornly to his corner for salvation and, when none was forthcoming, he soon belly flopped to the ground after a bristling Cameron made minimal contact.
The virtual walkover was Cameron's third by way of knockout in the first round but not his swiftest.
American Jeff Lindsay remarkably surrendered just 46 seconds into the 29-year-old's third pro fight in Nevada four years ago.
Hipolito's meek capitulation gifted Cameron his 17th career knock out, but hardly one he will reflect fondly on after training for eight weeks in the expectation of taking on Davis, a former International Boxing Federation cruiserweight champion.
Those plans were abandoned in bizarre circumstances on Sunday night when Davis leapt from a west Auckland bridge during a training run after being spooked by traffic.
He sustained back and neck injuries when landing on rocks and was fortunate to avoid paralysis.
Hipolito, a former policeman, proved as inadequate a replacement as his record of 12 wins and seven losses suggested – the drawcard spanned less than the rendition of the national anthems.
As Cameron drained a beer in his dressing room – reward for two months of earnest preparations – he expressed his frustrations and sympathised with disgruntled fans.
"There's no secret he wasn't up to the task," he said.
"The expectation when I fight is it's going to be bloody, there's going to be a war all the time but this guy couldn't keep up.
"You do get these easy ones. It unfortunate Kelvin had his injury but the show had to go on."
Cameron's manager Ken Reinsfield also felt for fans who booed the Brazilian.
"People have to expect an opponent like that if he's going to take a short notice fight. You're not going to get a world ranked fighter," he said.
"It was either that or cancelling the show."
Cameron, who is heading for a holiday in the UK, expects to fight an as yet unconfirmed opponentin August-September against before a potential bout with former heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield.
Meanwhile, Davis's brother and manager Kelly said Kevin had undergone successful surgery at North Shore Hospital yesterday.
"He was moving around when I saw him after the operation, that tripped me out, he doesn't need a brace," Kelly Davis said.
"The doctor said he should be able to start boxing again. He should be fine."
Davis will be recuperating in Auckland for about a month before returning to Nevada. Hipolito flies back to obscurity tomorrow.
