Parker pounds Dimitrenko in three

Joseph Parker (21-0, 18 KOs) halted Alexander Dimitrenko (38-3, 24 KOs) in the third round on Saturday night at the Vodafone Events Centre in Manukau, New Zealand.

Parker knocked Dimitrenko down four times en route to the TKO victory.

The New Zealander dropped Dimitrenko with a left-right combination in the first round and sent the 6'7" Russian to the canvas two more times in the second with more hard shots.

Dimitrenko went down for the fourth time from a body shot in the third and while he was on a knee, Parker delivered a blow to his ribs. Dimitrenko rolled around on the canvas as he was counted out by referee Marlon Wright at 1:38 of the round.

The ending was controversial because Dimitrenko was hit while he was down, but the fight had been totally one-sided before the foul blow and it looked like only a matter of time before Parker would get the KO.

The win sets up Parker for a world title fight next. He could either fight IBF champion Anthony Joshua, who is scheduled to defend his title in Manchester on November 26, or possibly meet Andy Ruiz for the vacant WBO belt if titleholder Tyson Fury gets stripped as expected.