updated 3:21 a.m. ET Aug. 13, 2006

NEW YORK - Tommy Zbikowski, a third-team All-America at safety at Notre Dame, made his professional boxing debut with a 49-second, first-round knockout of the totally outclassed Robert Bell at Madison Square Garden on Saturday night.

The 21-year-old Zbikowski, of Arlington Heights, Ill., won 75 of his 90 amateur bouts and earned $25,000 for his first pro fight.

He had two knockdowns of the 32-year-old Bell before referee Arthur Mercante Jr. called the scheduled four-round fight.

“I worked hard the last six, seven weeks,” said the Notre Dame player, who had more than 50 teammates on hand. “I wanted to prove that I was more than just a football player.”

Bell, of Akron, Ohio, fell to 2-3.

Zbikowski is able to be a professional in one sport and amateur in another according to NCAA rules as long as he does not receive money for endorsements or commercials.

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