Donovan "Razor" Ruddock (26-3-1) ushered in the post-Mike Tyson heavyweight era by using his powerful left hook to stop former heavyweight champion Greg Page (34-10) at the end of the eighth round last night in Las Vegas.
Ruddock (26-3-1) hadn't fought since losing a 12-round decision to Tyson in June.
"I hit him hard and harder and harder," Ruddock said. "I knew Page had come to fight."
Page, a 12-1 underdog, lasted in the scheduled 10-round fight until he was hit by a series of nine punches to the head in the eighth.
Also on the card last night, Julian Jackson (43-1) stopped challenger Ismael Negron (16-9-1) in 50 seconds to successfully defend the World Boxing Council middleweight title; heavyweight Bert Cooper (27-8) stopped Cecil Coffee (20-4-2) in the second round; former heavyweight champion Tony Tucker knocked out Kimmuel Odum in the second round; and heavyweight James "Bonecrusher" Smith (32-9-1) won a unanimous 10-round decision over Mark Wills (15-10-1).