LATROBE boxer Nick Cooney is through to the second round of the lightweight boxing at the Commonwealth Games after a bizarre early end to his opening bout in Glasgow.
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A head clash just 90 seconds into the contest caused a significant head wound to Cooney's opponent Muhammad Ottman.
Blood poured from the 23-year-old Malaysian's cut above his right eye and extensive treatment was unable to stem the flow.
The fight was eventually declared over and Cooney handed a unanimous 30-27 points victory.
``I feel like I didn't even have the chance to settle in and the head clash was just really bad timing,'' Cooney said.
``It would have been nice to have a couple more rounds but I got the win so I'm happy. I fight tomorrow and I'm feeling good.''
Asked what he remembered of the clash, the 21-year-old said: ``I certainly felt it. He came down onto my head but I didn't know at the time that it was going to be that bad.
``I'm just lucky I didn't get the cut.
``I was really looking forward to that and being the first one wanted to be more confident for the second, but I'm still happy with the result.''
Awaiting the Australian champ in the second round on Sunday will be both Charlie Flynn and a passionate home crowd.
The 21-year-old hails not just from Scotland but Lanark and lives at Motherwell, jogging distance away from the Scottish Exhibition and Conference Centre.
Flynn, who had the benefit of a first-round bye, finished fifth in the 2013 European championships, 33rd at the world championships in the same year and has a world ranking of 23.
