Bermudian boxer Saundre “Dash” Simmons was beaten in the first round of his IBF Pan Pacific light-heavyweight title fight in Australia.

Simmons was knocked down by a hard right from opponent Kirra Ruston with 57 seconds left of the opening round but was judged fit to continue by the referee after beating the count.

Ruston then launched a flurry of attacks, landing one particularly vicious uppercut, with the referee stepping in to stop the contest with 26 seconds of the first round remaining and Simmons covering up on the ropes.

Defeat was the first in the 29-year-old Bermudian’s professional career and takes his record to 9-1. His opponent took his record to 10-0 with ten knockouts.

After the Gold Coast bout, which featured on a huge televised pay-per-view card in Australia, Simmons’ victorious opponent gave his take on the fight in an in-ring interview.

“I never go into a fight expecting a knockout, it just comes with the boxing,” Ruston said.

“I didn’t expect to win in the first round and I’d prepared to go the whole ten rounds.”

Simmons was clearly disappointed with the stoppage and was seen shaking his head in disbelief on a number of occasions post-match and Ruston said he would have been happy for the fight to continue.

“I came here ready to fight so if he wanted to stay in the ring longer, let him stay in the ring longer,” Ruston said.

“I’m always ready to go and I can’t wait to get back in the ring. I’m happy to get in the ring with anyone. Line them up and I’ll knock them down. I’m now 10-0 with ten knockouts and that sounds pretty good.”