Canadian KO artist David Lemieux made his U.S. television debut a smashing one by stopping well-traveled Elvin Ayala in the first round of their ESPN2-televised main event in the undefeated middleweight prospect's hometown of Montreal on Friday.

Lemieux (23-0, 22 knockouts) dropped Ayala three times in the opening stanza of the scheduled 12 rounder, forcing referee Gerry Bolen to stop the fight at 2:44 of the round.

The 21-year-old puncher's stoppage was impressive given that Ayala (20-5-1, 9 KOs) had only been knocked out once in his seven-year career, a 12th-round TKO to Arthur Abraham in a middleweight title fight in 2008. Prior to his title shot, the 29-year-old fringe contender held former 154-pound beltholder Sergio Mora to a 10-round draw.

In the co-featured bout of the Friday Night Fights broadcast from Uniprix Stadium, Brian Vera knocked out Quebec favorite Sebastien Demers in the third round of their scheduled 10-round super middleweight bout.

Vera (17-2, 11 KOs), a participant on season two of The Contender reality TV show who stopped then-unbeaten Andy Lee in his last ESPN2 appearance, snapped a three-bout losing streak with the minor upset.

Demers (31-3, 11 KOs), who suffered a third-round TKO to Abraham in a failed title shot in 2007, was 11-1 in his last 12 bouts going into Friday's bout.