By Francisco Salazar

Middleweight contender Steven Butler stopped Jordan Balmir in round three late Saturday night at the Centre Videotron in Quebec City, Canada.

Balmir was competitive early, but the hard-hitting Butler (25-1-1, 22 knockouts), who resides in Montreal, began to land thudding punches that put Balmir on the defensive.

Butler hurt Balmir in round three, battering the previously unbeaten fighter until referee Michael Griffin stopped the fight at 1:59.

The 23-year-old Butler, who is ranked number six by the WBO, has won his last seven bouts (all by knockout) since his knockout loss to junior middleweight contender Brandon Cook in January of last year.

Balmir, who resides in Drummondville, Quebec, drops to 10-1, 6 KOs.

In a clash of head-hitting heavyweights from Canada, Dillon Carman (14-3, 13 KOs) knocked out Simon Kean (15-1, 14 KOs) at 1:28 of the fourth round, winning a regional title belt.

Referee Steve St-Germain stopped the bout at 1:28.

Junior welterweight prospect Batyrzhan Jukembayev, who is originally from Kazakhstan and now resides in Montreal, improves to 14-0 (2 NCs), 12 KOs with a seventh round knockout win over Patricio Moreno (20-3, 14 KOs) of Mexico.

Referee Alain Villeneuve stopped the bout at 2:47.

Eye of the Tiger Management promoted the 10-bout card.

Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (Calif.) Star newspaper. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing