Towering Chinese boxer KO’s rival

Towering Chinese boxer Taishan Dong has shown he has a punch to match his giant 2m-plus frame after delivering a thundering first round knock-out to an opponent 30cm smaller in a heavyweight bout.

Known as the 'Great Wall of China', the 2.1m (7 foot) tall Dong took little time to floor American Lance Gauch during a recent clash in California.

Gauch was pummeled from the opening bell and battled gamely, but giving away 30cm in height and a significant reach disadvantage he was always on a hiding to nothing.

And so it proved with 30 seconds remaining in the first round when he was sent crashing to the canvas with a heavy right-hand blow.

Such was the force of Dong's punch that Gauch was reportedly out cold for 10 minutes before being taken to hospital.

It underlined what an impenetrable force the 130kg Chinaman is and why he was signed by Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions last year.

Dong initially tried his hand at basketball and kickboxing, but the 27-year-old, who has a 5-0 record, now believes he has found his calling.

And it's hard to argue.

"Nowadays I am more patient and can overcome any challenges that arise during the fight," he told Fox Sports.

"I will give the best of myself. I will try to understand my opponent’s strategy from the beginning and therefore defeat him.

“My maximum potential has not been revealed yet. That is why I train hard, in order to become a world champion.'

Whether or not Dong is up to the challenge of Ukranian heavyweight world champion Wladimir Klitschko is debatable.

But with Klitschko standing at 198cm tall it sure would be a clash of the giants.