By CompuBox

Mikey Garcia sensationally captured his third divisional championship when, shortly after hurting Dejan Zlaticanin with a right uppercut, he spun to the side and nailed the soon-to-be former WBC lightweight champion with a crushing right to the jaw that left him unconscious. Referee Tony Weeks immediately waved off the fight, one in which Garcia started unusually fast and worked the jab almost constantly to keep the Montenegro native at bay.

The orthodox Garcia averaged 41.7 attempted jabs and 10.4 connects per round (exceptional numbers given Zlaticanin is a southpaw) as well as a robust 63.3 per round for the fight, which goes completely against his deliberate early rounds profile.

Mikey Garcia became a three-division world champion with a vicious third-round knockout of previously undefeated defending WBC Lightweight World Champion Dejan Zlaticanin in the co-main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING.

The rousing and definitive victory marked Garcia's return to boxing's elite.  The Oxnard, Calif., native was an undefeated two-division champion when he entered a two-and-a-half year layoff due to promotional issues.  He returned last July on SHOWTIME with an impressive performance and made a statement on Saturday by capturing a title in a third weight class in just his second fight in three years.

Garcia (36-0, 30 KOs) kept Zlaticanin off balance and out of range with his jab, setting up powerful rights that repeatedly backed up his opponent.  The 29-year-old hurt Zlaticanin with a flush right uppercut in the final minute of the third, followed by a punishing and perfectly timed right that immediately knocked the Montenegrin out cold.  Zlaticanin remained on the canvas for several minutes before returning to his feet as a concerned Garcia paced the ring.

It was the first time Zlaticanin (18-1, 11 KOs), the most avoided fighter at 135 pounds, was ever hurt or knocked down. 

Garcia now sets his sites on unifying the lightweight division.  WBA Lightweight World Champion Jorge Linares and former titlist Anthony Crolla will fight in a highly anticipated rematch on March 25 live on SHOWTIME from Manchester, England.  The WBC, the belt Garcia picked up on Saturday, has mandated that the winner of Linares vs. Crolla II must face the winner of Zlaticanin vs. Garcia. ."