Alsop, the current Australian Golden Gloves junior lightweight champion, was due to fight Lochie Higgins at the Reggio Calabria Club but was given a free pass into the final Victorian state team selection round when his opponent was disqualified for weighing in three kilograms over the 60-kilogram limit.

Alsop, who will face the final round in the second weekend of March, was one of four Ballarat fighters training under Ian Fear to contest the tournament.

The quartet returned with mixed results: one win (Alsop’s, via forfeit), two losses and a staggering knockout by first-time fighter Dylan Mallia that earned him the best fight award.

Zac Robertson and Paul Barresi both suffered close losses, but it was Mallia that exceeded all expectations, including Fear’s, as he romped to a second round knockout over Josh Spinali.

Mallia had Spinali in trouble in the first round, putting him on the canvas for an eight count before a huge flurry in the next round left his opponent to be stretchered out of the ring.