LAS VEGAS – Abraham Nova won a slugfest Friday night to continue his comeback in the 130-pound division.

Nova dropped hard-hitting Colombian veteran Jonathan Romero once apiece in the second and third rounds on his way to a third-round knockout on the Seniesa Estrada-Leonela Yudica undercard at Palms Casino Resort’s Pearl Theater. Referee Allen Huggins stopped their fight at 2:47 of the third round, following the second knockdown Nova scored in as many rounds.

Albany’s Nova (23-1, 16 KOs) has won back-to-back bouts since WBO featherweight champ Robeisy Ramirez (13-1, 8 KOs) knocked him out in the fifth round 13 months ago at Madison Square Garden’s Hulu Theater in New York. Cali’s Romero (35-2, 19 KOs) lost by knockout for the second time in 14 years as a pro.

After hitting the canvas during the second round, Romero rocked Nova with a right hand early in the third round. Nova recovered after taking several more power punches from Romero and fired back with hard right hands of his own.

Another right hand to the side of Romero’s head knocked him flat on his face. He couldn’t get up before Huggins counted to 10.

A right hand by Nova knocked Romero into the ropes with 40 seconds to go in the second round. A right uppercut by Nova knocked Romero to the canvas 10 seconds later.

Romero answered Huggins’ count at eight and made it to the end of the second round.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for krikya360.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.