IBC World Super Bantamweight title holder Bernard Dunne was successful on his debut on the European continent when he stopped Romanian Marian Leondraliu in the sixth round in Leipzig, Germany, tonight.
It was a thoroughly professional performance from the Dubliner who kept his composure throughout, although he did have a tendency to cut it close to the wind with his low lefts to the body.
However, it was a long left to the body that brought him the victory, with the Romanian twice falling to his knees in the sixth round before he decided to call it a night.
Both boxers started cagily, with little more than pleasantries being exchanged.
Even so, Dunne was holding the pivotal position in the centre of the ring. The 25-year-old was out to stamp his authority on proceedings. He succeeded with ease and looked comfortable in the process.
Leondraliu switched to a southpaw stance in the second round, but if he thought this would faze the steely Dunne he was sadly mistaken. Dunne, whose title wasn't on the line, retained his composure.
However, he was guilty of dropping his left hand on occasion and his opponent was quick to capitalise with a couple of dangerous looking rights coming over the top looking for a chin to call their home.
Dunne remained the epitome of composure and the following round saw him implement his tactics to the full.
Left hooks started flowing from the Neilstown man and they immediately started to have an effect. He was sailing pretty close to the wind, tough, and was admonished twice by the referee for the low nature of their contact. It was obvious that Dunne was attempting to weaken his experienced opponent.
The Bucharest native was rocked by yet another left hook to the bread basket in the fourth and his inability to unlock Dunne's solid defence saw him start to throw a series of haymakers.
This frustration soon boiled over and as Dunne returned to the corner after the bell at the end of the round blood was visible above his left eye. Dunne's corner claimed the Romanian deliberately instigated a clash of heads and the referee promised to keep a watch for any such further antics.
The IBC champion quickly shrugged off the incident and he caught Leondraliu with a sweet left hook to the jaw early in the fifth as the combinations began to come off.
Leondraliu continued to throw wild punches in the vain hope of drawing Dunne into a brawl but, by now, the Irishman knew he was in control and refused to be sucked in.
As Dunne returned to his stool at the end of the round he paused to acknowledge the Irish fans that had travelled to witness his continental debut. It may have been a little premature, but it was clear that the contest was his - providing he stayed out of trouble.
By the middle of the sixth round the crowd had seen the last of Marion Leondraliu. Dunne, oozing with confidence, was banging out his left like a lumberjack hacking at a tree and it wasn't long before his target was felled.
Leondraliu dropped to one knee as yet another of Dunne's rangy blows crashed just above his right hip. He got up, briefly, but he was soon down on the same knee and he quickly proposed to the referee that it was time to intervene.
The victory brought the Dubliner's professional record to 18 wins and no defeat
Afterwards, Dunne said he would be making an announcement next Thursday about bringing his ever-impressive wares back to his hometown in January. The capital's boxing fans will be licking their lips in anticipation.
