MINNEAPOLIS — Welterweight contender Jamal James (24-1, 11 KOs )gave his hometown crowd a treat as he sent Mahonry Montes (35-8-1, 24 KOs) to the canvas for a second round knockout in the main event of a jam-packed three-hour night of Premier Boxing Champions action Friday fromthe Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
"I came out here to make a statement and I'm even happier to be able to do it right here at home," said James. "The support in Minnesota is amazing and it gave me the extra motivation to get the job done in spectacular fashion. Everyone knows I attack the body and tonight I was able to use it to get the finish"
In his second straight fight at the Armory, James made a statement by quickly dispatching Mexico's Montes with a punishing left hook to the body that left his opponent crumpled on the canvas.
James broke through in the last 30 seconds of the second round, landing numerous unanswered right hands that put Montes in immediate trouble. James finished the show with the devastating body shot that eventually forced referee Mark Nelson to halt the bout at 2:58 of the round.
"I feel like I'm ready for the elite welterweights and tonight proved it again," said James. "I'm going to keep working hard and taking down anyone they put in front of me. It's time for me to make my mark in the division."