By Francisco Salazar

Welterweight contender Cesar Barrionuevo is demonstrating more punching power in recent fights. It has allowed him to win more fights convincingly, especially against those he has faced before.

Barrionuevo did it again Saturday night, knocking out Adrian Veron in the opening round at the Polideportivo Fray Mamerto Esquiu in Catamarca, Argentina.

Within the first 15 seconds of the opening round, Barrionuevo (34-3-2, 24 knockouts) dropped Veron with a counter right hook to the head. Veron stood up and fought back, but was overwhelmed again by the barrage of punches Barrionuevo threw and landed.

Feeding off the crowd in the town he was born in, Barrionuevo pressed forward. His aggression pain off as he dropped Veron with a left-right combination to the head. Veron struggled to get up as referee Rodolfo Stella counted him out at 2:11.

With the win, Barrionuevo, who is ranked number six by the WBC, won a regional title belt. He has won the six of his last seven bouts by knockout.

Veron falls to 21-3, 13 KOs.

The fight was a rematch from their Oct. 7 clash, a bout Barrionuevo won by knockout in the sixth round.

Fringe junior featherweight contender Luis Cusolito (26-2, 20 KOs) won by disqualification in the sixth round over Sergio Estrela.

Cusolito was in command over the veteran Estrela (20-15-3, 11 KOs). Referee Ramon Moreno deducted a point from Estrela at the end of the third round for repeated blows behind the head.

In the opening moments of the fourth round, Estrela was given a standing eight count, courtesy of a barrage of punches Cusolito landed. Estrela fought hard, but was no threat to Cusolito.

After Cusolito rocked Estrela over the next round or so, referee Ramon Moreno disqualified Estrela early in round six after repeated headbutts connected to the head of Cusolito.

Francisco A. Salazar has written for Boxingscene.com since September of 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (Calif.) Star newspaper, RingTV.com, and FightNights.com. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing