It's taken a couple of fights, but Pacific Palms' heavyweight boxer Shant 'Boomerang' Nercessian has bounced back to the form that saw him notch up an impressive amateur record in his 20s.
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The 38-year-old rematched with Sydney fighter Jeff King at Club Punchbowl on Saturday night, after drawing with him in their previous bout on October 12.
This time Nercessian made short work of his opponent, knocking him down for the count in the second round to take his professional record to a loss, a draw and a win.
Nercessian's trainer, Shane Nielsen of Forster's Deliver Sportz gym, said it was a near-perfect performance from his fighter.
"He was like a new fighter," Nielsen said.
"It's unbelievable how much he's improved. He's so much faster."
Nielsen believed a lot of the success on the night came from the fact the two were gelling as a partnership.
"Shant's just given his full trust to me," Nielsen said.
"He did everything I asked."
With the win behind them, the pair have received a number of offers for Nercessian's next fight, including from a number of boxers ranked inside the top 10 in NSW.
Nielsen said they will sit down soon and decide Nercessian's next move.
"I want to build his confidence even more with another win and then go for a hard fight," Nielsen said.
With Nercessian now ranked number 10 in NSW, Nielsen said they would love to line up a fight with Paul Gallen at some stage, who is ranked number two in the heavyweight division.
"We'll fight him any time," Nielsen said.
"Him and Barry Hall."
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Also impressing on Saturday night was Tuncurry middleweight prospect Darcy Gray, who won his debut amateur fight in a points decision over Sydney's Abbas Mourad.
Considering Mourad had fought two previous bouts and won his last one via knock out, Gray's performance was all the more impressive.
"Darcy is a real talent," Nielsen said.
"He's going to be something big in the future if he sticks at it."
He said Gray moved well inside the ring and used his reach and timing to take the win.
Forty-four-year-old Joe Crowther of Forster also stepped into the ring for the first time, fighting an exhibition match against a boxer half his age and more than six kilograms heavier.
Despite the fact there were no winners awarded, Nielsen said Crowther did himself proud, going blow for blow with his younger opponent.
"They were going to town on each other," Nielsen said.
"Joe matched it with the young kid."
Nielsen said their success on the night spelled good things for fighters from Deliver Sportz, with the gym now on the radar for potential future fights.
"A lot of people and gyms are starting to take notice," he said.
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