Adrian Roach needed just 38 seconds to score a technical knockout over American Brandon Mendez in Greensboro, North Carolina, on Friday night.

Roach dropped Mendez, who was making his professional debut, with a flurry of punches. The referee stepped in to end the fight, giving the Bermudian welterweight a technical knockout and extending his perfect record to 3-0.

“I earned that victory through a lot of hard work with my team,” Roach told The Royal Gazette.

“I just want to thank my team and God that we were able to pull it off the like that. When I left the ring, a part of me was saying ‘it was all the hard work’, but the other part of me was also saying ‘wow’, I’m surprised.”

Mendez had promised to demolish Roach before the four-round contest, but fans at the Frank & Florence Williams Event Centre must have been left disappointed as the 23-year-old barely offered a challenge.

“I found the article and read that he said he was going to completely destroy me,” the Bermudian said.

“He said he wanted to finish it in the first or second round. He was going to put me out of there and give me a hard time.

“I actually told my team I was contemplating asking him during the weigh-in, but I decided to leave the talking to my hands and I did just that.”

It was the second knockout of Roach’s blossoming career, with the first coming in his pro debut against Canadian Brent Coxworthy last July.

“You prepare for a fight to last the distance and for it to be extremely hard,” Roach said.

“I wouldn’t say it was easy. We prepared for this, put all the hours into it and in the end, it paid off.

“It’s kind of bittersweet that it ended early, but at the same time in this game, knockouts are what people want to see. That’s what excites the fans and I’m going to keep on delivering them as best I can.”

After two of his previously planned bouts were cancelled, it was Roach’s first fight in the US. He is targeting two more fights before the end of the year, with the possibility of one of them happening at home.

“I’m looking to have at least two more fights before the year is up,” the 24-year-old said.

“There are hardcore boxing fans in this Greensboro, North Carolina area. They have their local guy, Joseph Jackson, who was the main event. They came out in big numbers to support him and I had people coming up to me after my fight, they congratulated me and said that they want to see me again.

“So I’m really blessed and thankful to have a platform. I can continue to grow my stock and the promoter has already invited me back, they said they’ll have me in their next card.

“I have an invitation to another card in Texas, but all dates are to be announced. We’re definitely looking forward to more fights in the US and at home.

“We’re trying to bring it back home for everybody who’s been supporting me all this time to see me in person.”

Roach expressed his gratitude to all those who are contributing to his success on and off the ring.

“Thank you to my team and my coaches because without them, none of this would be possible,” the young boxer said.

“Thank you to my sponsors and a special shout out to Dion Greene of 7 South Production. He was the guy behind all the filming and edits that came out on social media before my fight.

“He really puts a lot into my career and is cultivating his talent to make sure that my story gets told.

“Dion ensures that my story gets told and that everybody else back at home could witness it almost as if it’s first-hand, even though I’m fighting overseas.”