Coach David Binns believes Warren Baister is ready for to make big impact

The Sunderland cruiserweight extended his unbeaten record to three wins out of three at the weekend.

Baister blitzed Latvia’s Eriks Kalasnikovs in a blink of an eye, referee Ron Kearney calling a halt in one minute, 54 seconds at the Rainton Meadows Arena.

It was the second first-round stoppage of the 28-year-old’s career and coach Binns admits he is excited by what he has seen.

While it is not uncommon for new professionals to be fed a diet of four-round bouts to get the feel of the paid game, in Baister’s case it hardly seems necessary.

The former Commonwealth Games gold medallist is hardly short on experience, class and power.

“I would think a six-rounder next, certainly, or eight,” said Binns.

“He’s as fit as butcher’s dog, so the rounds are not an issue.

“You’d have to say given his pedigree in boxing that he should be on a faster track than others new to the pro game.

“He’s a great kid and a great pro and I thought he was outstanding on Saturday.”

Kalasnikovs arrived with a good reputation, given all seven of his victims had failed to make it to the final bell.

But the Eastern European KO king was no match for the taller, more gifted Baister, who floored him twice before the referee waved it off.

“It was a beautiful performance and clinical finish,” said Binns, who trains Baister at the East Durham Community College gym at Peterlee.

“We’ve been working on combinations so it was very satisfying to see it come together as quickly as it did.

“The lad he was fighting looked a little raw, but he’d knocked out all of his seven wins, so he obviously had a bit of power.

“But Warren had his measure thanks to his jab and his performance came on the back of that.

“It was sheer class.”