LOWELL >> Tyler Johnston came out swinging before taking a tough one on the chin Thursday night.

The Dracut resident was knocked out by Santino Dimastrantonio with one second remaining in the opening round at the 78th New England Golden Gloves at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium.

Presented by Lowell Sun Charities, the nine-week boxing tourney flew into week five with 10 bouts, including four novice bouts in the Top Central New England division finals.

“It was tough,” said Johnston, 20. “If I lose, I lose, but I love the sport. I just have to keep with it.”

A Haverhill Downtown Boxing enthusiast and Innovation Academy graduate, Johnston set the pace, feeding his opponent with a series of straight rights and cornering him several times in the opening moments.

But just when he appeared to be in total control, fate interceded.

Cornered, Dimastrantonio disarmed his opponent with a sudden right hook, sending Johnston to the canvas. The referee quickly stepped in, ending the bout with just one second remaining in the round.

“He caught me clean,” said Johnston.

Dimastrantonio was shocked by the sudden turnaround, especially since he was cornered.

“That was insane,” said Dimastrantonio. “I don’t know how I did it. I was expecting three rounds. My last fight didn’t do so well. I wasn’t feeling it in me. I was kind of depressed and down. I thought I couldn’t do it, but went in there thinking I’ve got to no matter what and I did it.”

Medford twin brothers Christian and Anthony Schurko also earned unanimous decisions.

Christian Schurko (121) scored his second straight novice division title, besting Marco Uribe by unanimous decision. It was Schurko’s second Golden Gloves title, winning the 125-pound novice division last year.

“It feels good,” said Schurko. “Two times is always sweeter, baby.”

Schurko led with a crisp left jab in first round, while looking to unload a strong left hook. A Nashua, N.H., resident, Uribe hung tough with some big punches in the second, but missed his mark on some broken spurts.

Schurko took full advantage, killing off any thoughts of a Granite State comeback by swarming Uribe with a lightning-fast flurry in round three. He polished off his opponent with a stiff right cross to seal the deal.

“He was a little tricky,” said Schurko. “The fight was hard. Marco is a good friend of mine. We’ve trained together and I’m close to him. It hurt to beat him like that, but at the end of the day it’s the ring.”

He hopes it’s the first of several big steps in his boxing future.

“I’m looking to take All-New England’s next,” he said. “Hopefully I can go to Dublin this year and Puerto Rico for King of the Ring.”

Twin brother Anthony Schurko dispatched Natick’s Nick Leone by unanimous decision in the 132-pound open division.

JVari James (154) opened the night with a dominant victory over Jacob Benevento. The referee stopped the contest at 1:31 of the third round. James had his combination working from the opening bell. The LFG Fitness fighter landed quality some shots, despite being outpunched in the initial round.

He continued to withstand Benevento’s short outbusts with another sharp combo in the second, scoring his first of two standing eight counts. He continued his flurry ending round two with a flash. James rocked his opponent with a heavy right in the third round. The blow sent his opponent sprawling to the canvas for his second standing eight. He finished off his foe moments later, with the ref stepping in to end it at 1:31 of the third round.

Portland Boxing Club prospect Abbas Ngboka (154) pulled out all the stops, winning a 4-1 split decision over Ben Lincoln.

The Maine pugilist unloaded a glittering array of body shots, keeping his opponent on the defensive. Lincoln came back strong in the second. The Framingham fighter delivered several roundhouse rights that hit the mark. Fatigue seemed to set in on Ngboka, who was trying to catch his second wind.

Lincoln cornered his opponent in round three with both boxers appearing gassed. Pinned against the ropes, Ngboka battled back with a quick flurry, escaping the jam. He rallied with another strong flurry to earn the win.

A pair of Lawrence lightweights also went toe-to-toe, as Jhonniel Lopez edged Jefrey Paulino in a 3-2 split decision in the 143-pound novice final. Both boxers fight out of the Canal Street stable. The bout was tied going into the third.

Cambridge boxer Dasan Mosley Santos (176) also earned a 4-1 split decision over Windham, N.H., heavyweight Kyle Adamson. Both fighters traded some serious blows over the course of their three-round battle.