By Keith Idec

VERONA, New York – Callum Johnson didn’t let his opponent off the hook this time.

The British light heavyweight contender dropped Sean Monaghan twice in the second round Saturday night and finished him off early in the third round. The 33-year-old Johnson (18-1, 13 KOs) stopped Monaghan (29-3, 17 KOs) at 23 seconds of the third round on the Dmitry Bivol-Joe Smith Jr. undercard at Turning Stone Resort & Casino.

England’s Johnson dropped IBF light heavyweight champ Artur Beterbiev in the second round of his previous bout, but he lost by fourth-round technical knockout October 6 in Chicago. He hopes his victory over Monaghan will lead to a fight against the Bivol-Smith winner.

“There isn’t a fighter that is out there in the light heavy division that is stronger than me,” Johnson said. “I have power to knock anyone out. I know I had a tough competitor ahead of me in Monaghan. I enjoyed myself out there tonight.”

The 35-year-old Monaghan, of Long Beach, New York, lost for the third time in his past four fights and for the second time by knockout.

After a rough first round, Monaghan came forward and pressed the action during the second round. He had some success in that round, before Johnson, backed into a neutral corner, cracked him with an overhand right that knocked Monaghan backward and eventually down, with 30 seconds to go in that round.

The ever-game Monaghan got up, but Johnson jumped on him. Johnson blasted Monaghan with a right-left combination that dumped him to the seat of his trunks.

Monaghan made it to his feet again and appeared to be in no condition to continue. Fitch strangely allowed the action to continue and the bell sounded soon after the action resumed.

Monaghan, battered and bloodied from Johnson’s second-round assault, had no chance once the third round started. Johnson attacked his vulnerable opponent, unleashed a barrage of body and head shots and Fitch finally stepped in to halt the action 23 seconds into the third round.

A cut opened over Monaghan’s right eye with just over a minute to go in the first round. Johnson spent much of the first round hammering Monaghan with left hooks to the body, overhand rights and right uppercuts.

Monaghan didn’t appear to land much in the first round that affected Johnson, who pressed the action throughout those three minutes.

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