IT took Jamaica’s Sakimo Mullings only two minutes and 47 seconds into the fourth round to knock out Guyanese Revlon Lake in the opening bout of the 2014 Wray & Nephew Contender Boxing Series at the Chinese Benevolent Association Auditorium on Wednesday night.

In the post fight interview, Mullings was asked what was responsible for the slow start and if nervousness was the cause? “It was nothing of the sort,” he replied. “We were going six rounds; I knew very little of my opponent so I was cautious early just taking my time to feel him out. Hey, I had promised to end the fight early and I did just that.”

Lake said what really happened after the third round was that he was getting a little tired and “he catch me (with) a shot. I am disappointed that he catch me so early. But he is the better fighter so I give him the credit,” said Lake.

It was not as explosive a fight as patrons had anticipated, but there was enough action from both fighters to set the tone for favourites Team Jamaica to continue to show the way forward against Team Caribbean.

The best available 16 professional boxers from Jamaica and the Caribbean began their conquest for the major slice of almost $3 million on offer over the next 14 weeks that will see the winner pocketing a tidy $2 million as the winner’s share, along with the title of Jamaica’s Ultimate Welterweight Contender.

Earlier, the season opened with two action-packed amateur bouts. In the first, an Open Class middleweight rough house over three rounds saw Gregory Miller boxing out of the Stanley Couch Gym getting a decision over Fabian Tucker representing Sugar Olympic Gym.

In the other contest, Chad Richards representing Sugar Olympic Gym scored an impressive win over Omar Campbell representing Bruising Gym.

In the main bout, the first round began more as a sparring match. Round two was not much better and the crowd became restive. This prompted more action from the boxers, and after a careful and methodical build-up in the third round, the boxers had seen enough of each other and it looked as though the crowd would be royally entertained.

Up to the point where he was knocked out, Lake appeared ahead on points as he was connecting with some telling shots that at times seemed to surprise Mullings. But the Team Jamaica boxer, in response, became more aggressive in his approach and connected with some good two-fisted body shots.

Approaching the close of the third round, Lake looked a little winded with his face all puffy. He, however, returned for the fourth very chirpy, while Mullings returned in a punishing mood to continue what he started towards the end of the third round.

In the fourth round, he delivered a number of heavy body punches that noticeably took further toll on the legs of Lake and it appeared only a matter of time for the charade to end.

It was swift and not unexpected when it came two minutes 47 seconds into the fourth round. Lake was sent to the canvas from a crashing right and sat there until referee Barrington Graham had counted him out.