JAKE PAUL’S top boxing prospect Ashton Sylve was brutally knocked out in a fight he was cruising in.
Sylve came into the bout 11-0 with nine KOs and tipped as one of the sport’s future stars.
And he made his return in Florida on the undercard of Paul’s bout with ex-UFC welterweight-turned-bare-knuckle boxer Mike Perry.
Sylve took on 16-0 Canadian puncher Lucas Bahdi and stormed to an early lead.
But suddenly in round six he was hit with a thudding right hand and the follow up left hook sent the young American crashing to the canvas.
The fight was immediately waved off to crown Bahdi as the come-from-behind victor and Sylve beaten for the first time.
Esteemed MMA reporter Ariel Helwani said: “Holy smokes! He was losing every minute of that fight.” Every round. Every minute.”
“Lucas Bahdi must’ve been praying for this moment, praying for this opportunity.
“He’s just shocked the world and has knocked out ‘H20’ Sylve out cold.”
Social media was also turned into a frenzy as one said: “KO OF THE YEAR.”
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Another added: “Landed on his face…Brutal.”
One hailed: “Crazy comeback wow.”
Sylve was due to face fellow unbeaten up-and-comer Floyd Schofield in Texas on the undercard of Paul’s fight with Mike Tyson.
But the event – due to be Netflix’s first splash into live boxing – was postponed after Tyson pulled out amid a health precaution.
It has instead been rescheduled to November 15 but Sylve and Paul took keep-busy bouts.
Paul, 27, dropped Perry, 32, three times before winning in round six.
But Sylve, 20, looks to have lost his clash with Schofield, 21, following his shock loss.
