Nunn Has Fast Night in Reseda

Michael Nunn proved he could go home again.

Nunn’s return to the Reseda Country Club, where the two-time former world champion ascended the middleweight ranks during the 1980s, was a ringing success Friday as Nunn stopped Rudy Nix 2:52 into the second round of their North American Boxing Federation light-heavyweight title fight before about 600.

The bout was Nunn’s seventh consecutive victory under the tutelage of trainer Joe Goossen, with whom Nunn reunited in 1995 after a five-year split.

It was also an endorsement to Nunn’s claim that he has developed into a more punishing fighter. Early in his career, Nunn, undefeated in 12 fights at the Country Club from 1985 to 1988, often was criticized for aiming for finesse over his opponent’s midsection.

After fighting a tentative first round, Nunn, 33, who improved to 50-3-1 with 32 knockouts, dropped Nix (17-3-1) with a flurry of shots to the body. Nix went down a second time moments later in the same fashion and the fight was stopped.

“I definitely wanted to make a statement,” Nunn said. “In the first round, I was trying to find my range and Joe didn’t want me to get hurt. Everybody told me he was a tough guy. But I just started tagging him and he fell. I was surprised the referee stopped the fight.”