VERONA. Oct 9 (AP/AFP): They called Muhammad Ali "The Greatest." Just call his daughter "The Quickest."

With her father watching from ringside. 21-year-old Laila Ali made her pro boxing debut by knocking out April Fowler at 31 seconds of the first round Friday night before about

2.800 fans at the Turning Stone Casino Convention Centre.

It was no fight at all. Fowler was inept in the ring, often turning her head as she punched. Ali speared her with several jabs and then knocked her out with a left-right to the jaw.

When Fowler hit the floor. Ali stood over her with her fist cocked, reminiscent of how her father stood over a knocked out Sonny Liston in the first round of their rematch in 1965.

Her father showed no emotion when the fight ended, but his wife, Lonnie, smiled broadly.

Ali. nearing 6 feet (1.8 metres) tall and weighing 166 pounds (74.7 kilograms), could nave trouble finding opponents because most female boxers are not that heavy.

While the daughter was in the ring, it was the father who drew the crowd. Shortly before 9 pm EDT (0100 GMT), as the ring announcer acknowledged "a man who needs no introduction." the cheering crowd rose to its feet.

Muhammad Ali then entered the ring with his wife. Also accompanying him was Hannah. Laila s sister, and one of two daughters Ali had with his third wife. Veronica.

Laila's mother. Veronica Kennedy, sat on the other side of the ring from Ali.

Laila Ali. who owned a nail salon in Los Angeles, said she got interested in boxing when she took it up as exercise to lose weight.

It has been suggested that she is exploiting one of the most famous names in sports. In a television appearance earlier in the week, however, she said. "It is my name. too. so 1 don't feel I'm exploiting anything."

Fowler, a waitress from Michigan City, Indiana, was fighting for just the second time. She was knocked out in the first round 18 months ago — had said she expects to be back serving tables at her restaurant Saturday night.

Laila Ali. knowing that her name makes her famous but her experience ranks her as a beginner. purposely chose an obscure place to launch her fight career.

She also stipulated that TV cameras not be allowed in the arena.

"I was surprised how 1 was not nervous," said the five-foot-10-inch. 166-pound Ali. who decided to pursue professional boxing after taking up the sport to get fit.

"I was expecting to have butterflies. that my legs would be shaking. But I wasn't nervous.

"I'm more confident now than before- and that's bad." she smiled. "I was already confident. Now I'm pumped."