Kent Cruz could’ve used rounds while ending a 20-month layoff Wednesday night.

Erik Castillo couldn’t provide more than two. Castillo declined to continue following the second round due to dizziness he claimed was caused by Cruz’s punch behind his head. Nevertheless, the undefeated Cruz recorded a technical-knockout victory in a scheduled six-round welterweight fight FS1 aired from Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles.

St. Louis’ Cruz completely controlled the action in those two rounds of his first fight since February 2019. The 27-year-old prospect improved to 16-0-1 (10 KOs).

Mexico’s Castillo (9-3, 3 KOs) has lost each of his three fights against opponents with winning records.

He fought outside of Tijuana for the first time in 12 professional fights. The 21-year-old Castillo hadn’t been stopped inside the distance before he encountered Cruz, who is taller and stronger than Castillo.

Castillo covered up throughout the second round and didn’t throw many punches at Cruz. Refreer Edward Hernandez Sr. warned Cruz for hitting Castillo behind his head with just under 40 seconds to go in the second.

Cruz caught Castillo with a hard, left hook that knocked Castillo off balance just a few seconds into their fight. Castillo tried to touch gloves as soon as the bell rang, but Cruz skipped those pleasantries and immediately unloaded power punches on Castillo. 

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