LAS VEGAS – Marc Castro couldn’t ask for a better first year to his pro career.

The unbeaten junior lightweight from Fresno maintained his perfect knockout-to-win ratio, scoring a second-round knockout of Ronaldo Solis. Castro floored Solis midway through round one and again in round two, the latter prompting referee Robert Hoyle to stop the fight at 0:43 of round two in their DAZN-televised opener Saturday evening at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

As has been the case throughout his brief pro career, Castro didn’t waste any time in making his presence felt. Solis was immediately under attack, with a heavy jab by Castro setting up his strong right hand which froze the Cancun native in his tracks. Castrol followed through, landing a combination punctuated by a right hand to force Solis to the canvas.

Castro proceeded with the heavy artillery, nearly taking out Solis in the closing seconds of the opening round. A single right hand by Solis was enough to briefly force Castro to take a step back, allowing him to make it out of the round.

Castro emphatically closed the show in round two. Solis (4-3-1, 3KOs) was trapped along the ropes when Castro landed a crushing right hand to send Solis to the canvas. This time, it was enough to prompt an immediate stoppage.

Castro improves his record to 5-0 (5KOs), all coming in a 50-week span since turning pro last December 19 in San Antonio. The first three fights of Castro’s career took place on the undercards of Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, with his most recent outing serving as a true homecoming this past October 16 in Fresno, California. The rising prospect is expected to be moved aggressively in the year ahead.

Castro-Solis opened a five-fight DAZN telecast headlined by the lightweight title consolidation clash between WBC World lightweight titlist Haney (26-0, 15KOs) and WBC interim title claimant Joseph ‘JoJo’ Diaz (32-1-1, 15KOs).

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox