Despite being aware of the punching power Roberto Castaneda possesses, Joseph Diaz, Jr. wanted to make a statement on Thursday night.

He did just that, making a case for the boxing world to keep an eye on him in 2015 in the process.

Diaz stopped Castaneda after Round 4 of a 10-round featherweight bout at the Events Center of Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio, California. The bout headlined a Golden Boy Promotions card and was broadcast live on Fox Sports 1.

After a competitive opening round, Diaz began to land repeatedly to the head of Castaneda. While the southpaw could have utilized a more consistent jab, he made up for it by throwing and landing two- and three-punch combinations.

Even as Diaz stunned Castaneda during the fight, he maintained his poise, not getting drawn into a brawl with Castaneda. When Castaneda tried to land lead right hands to the head, he left himself open to counters from Diaz.

By Round 4, Diaz was in complete command, backing Castaneda up against the ropes and landing at will. Castaneda could not mount any attack as the round progressed, later confirming after the round ended that his right hand might have been broken from throwing a punch.

After consulting with the ringside physician, referee Raul Caiz, Sr. waved the fight over after the round. Diaz could appear on a Golden Boy Promotions card in December.

Diaz, a 2012 United States Olympian, improves to 13-0, 9 knockouts. Castaneda falls to 21-8-1, 15 KOs.

Ramirez stops Melo

Featherweight prospect Julian Ramirez stopped Pedro Melo after Round 4 of a scheduled eight-round bout.

The southpaw is known for his punching power early in his career, but has improved his boxing skills and ring generalship in recent fights. It showed in his bout against Melo, as he pressed the fight but looked to set up his combinations.

From Round 2 on, Ramirez had Melo fight on the defensive. Ramirez was able to do this by attacking the body, hurting Melo during an exchange in the second.

Ramirez continued to control the action, setting up his punches and staying composed whenever he connected his combinations to Melo. During an exchange in Round 4, a cut appeared over the left eye of Melo that looked like it came from a punch. Melo’s corner advised the ringside physician and referee Ray Corona to stop the fight after the round.

Ramirez, from East Los Angeles, improves to 13-0, 8 KOs. Melo, from Mexico City, D.F., Mexico, falls to 9-7-2, 2 KOs.

De La Hoya overwhelms Gonzalez

Featherweight prospect Diego De La Hoya slowly broke Ali Gonzalez down, eventually stopping him in Round 5 of a scheduled six-round bout.

After a fairly even opening round, De La Hoya, the younger cousin of Oscar De La Hoya, began to impose his will on Gonzalez. De La Hoya landed the more-telling blows with each passing round, particularly with straight and counter right hands to the head of Gonzalez.

While Gonzalez held his ground at times and fought back, he was getting hit repeatedly, as was evident from the reddening on his face from the punches De La Hoya would land.

De La Hoya looked as though he stunned Gonzalez in Round 4. De La Hoya did not let up in the following round, eventually hurting Gonzalez with a right uppercut to the head. Gonzalez staggered into a corner, where De La Hoya followed up to rain down a barrage of punches. Referee Raul Caiz, Sr. wisely stepped in and stopped the bout at 1:40.

De La Hoya improves to 8-0, 6 KOs, while Gonzalez falls to 6-4, 1 KO.

Taishan stops Washington

Heavyweight hopeful Taishan Dong, who is trained by Buddy McGirt, knocked out Tommy Washington in the opening round of his second pro fight.

Taishan, who is reportedly close to 7 feet tall, worked from the center of the ring as Washington tried to get on the inside at the start of the fight. Later in the round, Taishan landed a right hand to the head of Washington. Moments later, Taishan landed another right hand, this time to the top of the head of Washington, dropping him to the canvas. Washington remained on the canvas as referee Jack Reiss counted him out at 2:35.

Taishan, a China native who resides in the Los Angeles suburb of Glendale, goes to 2-0, 2 KOs. Washington falls to 3-7, 2 KOs.

In a four-round swing bout, lightweight Jesus Delgado (3-0-1, 1 KO) won a unanimous decision over Rick Quevedo (1-2). All three judges scored the bout 40-36 in favor of Delgado.

Francisco A. Salazar has written for RingTV since October of 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Salazar also covers boxing for the Ventura County (CA) Star newspaper, Boxingscene.com, and Knockout Nation. He can be reached by email at [email protected] or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing