by MIKE KING

WORLD-RATED super bantamweight Leon "Hurry Up" Moore needed five rounds to win the main bout, but Shawn "The Sniper" Cox required just 60 seconds to start his pro career in a blaze of glory in Sam Layne's latest boxing promotions at Tim's On De Hi-way, on Sunday night.

Moore, ranked six by the World Boxing Council (WBC), took his record to 21-2 by putting away fellow Guyanese Linden Arthur, but most hometown fans had eyes only for Cox's debut effort in the ring against Julian "Thunder" Tannis.

Wild rights

Making a belated entry to the pro ranks at age 32 after a successful amateur career, Cox stepped away from two wild rights from Tannis and then demolished his opponent with a series of body shots that left him hurt and dazed in his corner.

Cox seized on the moment and caught the Vincentian-born Tannis with a powerful hook to the jaw that ended the embarrassingly one-sided contest.

"I am ready for anyone who comes in front me. I wanted to go at least three rounds but Tannis gave me a lot of talk and I had to take him out early," said a delighted Cox.

Before a crowd that included veteran promoter Eric Sealy and former Barbados cricketer Livingstone Puckerin, Moore toyed with Arthur in the first three rounds, dominated the fourth round with a series of solid body shots and then had his opponent grovelling at his feet 54 seconds into the fifth round.

Corporate support

"I would love to fight a top-class opponent in Barbados. We need the corporate support to bring the best fighters here. It is tough getting support from the business community," Moore said.

Fast-rising 18-year-old Miguel Antoine moved to 7-0 by unloading a barrage of punches that left 45-year-old Jamaican Muhammad Dawes helpless after two minutes, nine seconds of their welterweight clash.

Kevin Stapleton took ten seconds more to end his junior middleweight bout with Kevin Neverson, while Cleveland Fraser made big Sheldon "Thor" Holder a punching bag before the referee stopped their heavyweight clash in the second round.

The opening bout of the night was the one that went the distance. John Trotman winning a unanimous decision over Ricardo Blackman in their four-round lightweight match.