WBO No. 1 ranked super featherweight Albert Bell (26-0, 9 KOs) scored a first-round knockout win over Jonathan Romero (35-3, 19 KOs) tonight at the Glass City Center in Toledo, Ohio.

Romero came into the scheduled 10-round main event off a third-round knockout loss to Abraham Nova last July in Las Vegas. All three of the Colombian’s losses have come by stoppage. Bell picked up a third consecutive early win with tonight’s highlight reel knockout in his hometown. 

The opening 90 seconds saw both men barely throw a punch until Romero pressed Bell to the ropes. It would be the beginning of the end of a short night as the offense of Romero prompted Bell to snap back with a smart combination to the body. Romero reverted to working off the back foot momentarily, but would launch an easily avoided three-punch combination. 

Bell landed a right hand to the body followed by a right uppercut that forced Romero to cover up. He would work Romero into defensive mode with more body shots. Another body shot forced Romero into the corner which would tee up a spectacular overhand right that ended  proceedings. Romero fell flat on his face as the referee waved the bout off with no count at 2:20 to the adulation of the home crowd in Toledo. 

Bell stays on course for Emanuel Navarrete’s WBO super featherweight title, who moves up to lightweight to challenge Denys Berinchyk for the WBO lightweight in May. 

On the undercard undefeated light heavyweight Antwan Jones (15-0, 9 KOs) delivered a second round knockout over Argentine veteran Vicente Martin Rodriguez (42-15-1, 23 KOs). After boxing his way through an easy opening round Jones landed a right to the head that stopped the fight at 2:17 in the second round.