Just as quickly as Nikita Tszyu-Michael Zerafa bubbled up nicely through two rounds, it was dramatically stopped three seconds into the third frame.

Former world title challenger Zerafa (34-5, 22 KOs) was deemed unable to continue by the ringside doctor with referee Chris Condon taking his advice, having suffered a nasty gash above his left eye from an accidental headbutt late in round two.

"I didn't stop it, I don't know why everyone's booing me, the doctor stopped it," Zerafa protested as thousands of angry paying fans at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre felt short-changed by what was billed the fight of the decade on Australian shores.

Both apologised for the anti-climax ringside, with Tszyu (11-0, 9 KOs) saying he was told that 'Michael said he couldn't see' as it remains unclear - though likely - they'll pivot in another direction. Had Tszyu won here, he would've been manoevured towards a world title eliminator. The 27-year-old lamented having trained for six months without reward, while the 33-year-old was rushed backstage with a security escort to avoid being hit by fans.

It's especially worsened by the fact Zerafa began well.

He advanced and caught the fan favourite early with a slick succession of jabs before finding himself off-balance moments later, teetering close to being floored. Condon separated them after the pair traded shots - an early sign of things to come.

They briefly exchanged in the pocket, Tszyu flicking his left hand through the guard and it typified an intriguing start to a compelling watch you couldn't take your eyes off. Both were defensively vulnerable, making for precisely what everyone wanted: a conclusive finish.

Instead, there was a cruel twist.

Tszyu began round two as the aggressor, Zerafa intermittently countering him and waiting for openings. The referee broke them up once more and you could immediately see the former world title challenger wearing some damage around his left eye, a sight that spurred both into action as the younger man had a target to aim at. Zerafa needed to assert himself.

He did exactly that with a clean right, then Tszyu fired back and pressed on the accelerator, leaving himself open for a lunging hook to land flush as he staggers back to the ropes.

Just before the start of round three, the doctor assessed Zerafa's left eye. Although no longer bloodied around his eye, you could see a deep cut above his eye, below the eyebrow.

At least one camera replay showed Zerafa verbalise that he couldn't see - though fleetingly - and as time passed without action, you could instinctively sense a firm decision was taking too long. Right on cue moments later, the official motioned to wave off the contest.

A nightmare end to an entertaining night.

Demsey McKean (24-2, 16 KOs) is glad to be back winning in the public eye and eyes a return to the world scene after a seventh-round stoppage of Toese Vousiutu (8-3, 7 KOs), who proved too tough for his own good during a gruelling back-and-forth tussle at times.

McKean, whose career defeats have come against Filip Hrgovic and Moses Itauma, both rated among The Ring's top-10 at heavyweight, looked off-balance at times and was drawn into exchanging in close quarters when he would've been better served to utilise his range.

Yet from as early as round three, the 35-year-old hurt Vousiutu - even if he tried to mask it - and there was an overwhelming sense the writing was on the wall two rounds later, as he connected clean with a series of uppercuts and stinging haymakers to unsteady him.

An unanswered barrage of punches pinning Vousiutu against the ropes did the trick before McKean embraced the bad boy role, predicting a Zerafa win to cap the night's action.

Nelson Asofa-Solomona was the latest athlete to switch sports, predictably scoring a first-round finish on his pro debut with an uppercut blasting beyond Jeremy Latimore (1-1).

After a successful career as a professional rugby league footballer, who also made 16 international appearances for New Zealand, the 29-year-old was unhappy and stressed the need to hold his stance better after breezing past a fellow former pro, albeit a decade older.

Stevan Ivic (8-0-1, 2 KOs) retained his domestic title with a narrow 10-round majority decision win (96-94 x 2, 95-95) past Liam Talivaa in a slow-burner that ebbed and flowed.

Former sparring partner-turned-opponent Talivaa (7-2, 3 KOs) finished stronger and wobbled the defending champion in the final round, to the point where many were surprised by the scorecards not favouring the younger southpaw after throwing caution to the wind.

The decision was met with boos as Ivic praised Talivaa's improvements since sharing rounds previously, hinting that he wanted to be in more exciting fights and start challenging himself overseas -- adding that U.S. and UK heavyweights are 'nowhere as good as ours'.

One-time junior lightweight world title challenger Liam Wilson (18-3, 10 KOs) kicked off the main card with the night's first stoppage, defending his WBO ranking title with a fourth-round stoppage of tricky Rodex Piala (12-2, 1 KO).

Filipino visitor Piala was left writhing in agony near the ropes for several minutes, a sharp contrast to what was an encouraging effort following a cagey start. Landing early and often in the second frame, Wilson wore the damage and looked a cherry red colour, though being caught clean on the bell to end round three kicked the 29-year-old into gear.

His corner were visibly excited by hooks and body shots in the fourth, the latter foreshadowing an emphatic finish. A nice one-two combination was followed by a disguised left hook to the midsection, Piala didn't see it coming and 'Mr. Damage' ended it early.

"I had to box the right fight, he was tricky customer but got the job done, onto the next. It was a weird one, we had the main event first and now you can enjoy the undercard," he joked during his post-fight interview. Prior during the build-up, he sang a different tune.

Next month will mark three years since he fought admirably but ultimately succumbed to a ninth-round knockout defeat by WBO 130-pound champion Emanuel Navarrete.

"I think I deserve the Navarrete rematch. I said many years ago when I lost, if he doesn't wanna give it me, I'll work my way back into a position and that's what I'm doing. Time waits for nobody - I'm getting older - and need to make the most of it," he told BoxingScene.

Currently the WBO's No. 3-ranked contender, No. 1-rated Charly Suarez will presumably get first refusal on the Navarrete-Nunez unification winner come March 1. Kenichi Ogawa at No. 2 - viciously stopped by Joe Cordina in June 2022 - has only boxed poor opposition since.

Keeping active, this showing will have done him some good.

157-pound catchweight: Nikita Tszyu-Michael Zerafa ended in a no-contest (R3, 0:03)

Heavyweight: Demsey McKean TKO7 (1:27) Toese Vousiutu

Heavy: Nelson Asofa-Solomona KO1 (2:27) Solomona-Jeremy Latimore

Heavy: Stevan Ivic MD10 (96-94 x 2, 95-95) Liam Talivaa

Junior lightweight: Liam Wilson KO4 (2:56) Rodex Piala

Super middleweight: Max Reeves UD6 (60-54) Sonny Abid

Lightweight: Billy Polkinghorn UD6 (60-54) Jomar Paliwen

Middleweight: Blake Wells TD9 (88-83, 88-84, 87-84) Ainiwaer Yilixiati

Junior middleweight: Jack Javed UD4 (40-36) Zephy Vaotu'ua