Jesse Rodriguez barely needed two minutes to demolish Janiel Rivera on Saturday night.

The unbeaten junior flyweight prospect knocked down Janiel Rivera three times in the first round and knocked him out. Referee Russell Mora stopped their scheduled eight-round flyweight fight at 2:03 of the opening round.

The 20-year-old Rodriguez, a powerful southpaw from San Antonio, improved to 12-0 and recorded his eighth knockout. The 28-year-old Rivera (18-7-3, 11 KOs), of Catano, Puerto Rico, lost by TKO for the second time in his 10-year pro career.

A left uppercut by Rodriguez awkwardly knocked Rivera into the ropes, which helped hold him up. Mora correctly counted that as the first knockdown of the short bout.

Rivera wanted to continue and tried to fend off the aggressive Rodriguez. He didn’t last much longer, though, because Rodriguez’s power overwhelmed him.

A left by Rodriguez left Rivera slumped against the ropes with about 1:25 to go in the opening round. Mora allowed Rivera to continue again, but Rodriguez finished him soon thereafter.

Two more lefts by Rodriguez knocked Rivera to the canvas for the third time. Mora stopped the fight following that third knockdown.

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