Irish-American welterweight Danny O’Connor suffered a heavy first round KO loss last night on a Premier Boxing Champions show in Boston. Danny ‘Bhoy’ was headlining the card at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium and suffered a nasty-looking stoppage loss to Gabe Bracero.

O’Connor was looking to avenge his first career loss after dropping a 2011 points decision to the New Yorker, but was caught cold by a huge overhand right inside the first minute on the Murphy’s Boxing show.

The Boston fighter was out cold as soon as the shot landed, and sickeningly crumpled to the floor, banging his head on the canvas. Such was the severity of the knockdown, the referee didn’t bother with a count. Bracero was not a noted puncher but this only serves to emphasise that anything can happen in the first round.

Reassuringly, OConnor was soon up on his feet and Murphy’s head honcho Ken Casey confirmed afterwards that the 30 year old suffered no lasting harm.

O’Connor’s record now falls to 26(10)-3(1) while Bracero improves his ledger to 24(5)-2(0).

The immensely popular O’Connor may now re-evaluate his aspirations going forward, but a fight in his ancestral home remains a possibility.