Brock Jarvis, one of Australia's most promising boxing talents, has survived an early scare to keep his undefeated record in tact, winning his first overseas bout in California.
At 23, the Sydney pugilist made his American boxing debut four years younger than his famous trainer, former three-time world champion, Jeff Fenech did in 1991.
And Jarvis was made to work for the victory by Mexican Alejandro Frias Rodriguez, who unleashed a flurry of combinations in round two that rocked the Australian, who survived only by the ropes keeping him up.
Jarvis was able to recover, find his feet and composure through rounds three and four, before taking the fight back to Frias with unwavering pressure and limiting his space in the ring.
Pressing his head into the chest and shoulders of his opponent, made famous by Fenech, Jarvis landed heavy body shots and uppercuts before the referee stopped the fight midway through the fifth round.
He improves his record to 20-0, with 17 wins via knockout and said he was prepared to fight through any adversity.
"I hung in there and kept working to get the win," Jarvis said post-fight.
"I've come here to win and win at all costs, so a bit of adversity is not going to stop me."
Jarvis recently signed a long-term deal with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Sport and said he was glad to get the win with the Englishman in attendance.
Fighting as the ninth-ranked 130-pound boxer by the IBF, Jarvis landed 42 per cent of his 304 punches thrown to his opponent's 44 per cent in Fresno.
With the victory he becomes the IBF intercontinental lightweight champion, after moving up from super-featherweight.
.png?w=600)
