Former Australian rugby league bad boy John Hopoate is finding success in his new career as a boxer.

Hopoate, who retired from rugby last year after receiving a 17-match ban for hitting an opponent from behind, made a spectacular professional debut in May by knocking out Frank Faasolo in less than a minute.

He made it two in a row on Friday with a fourth round stoppage of New Zealand heavyweight Alex Mene.

The 32-year-old former test winger's controversial past saw him banned for a variety of offences including pushing his fingers up the backsides of opposing players.

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