Featherweight Christopher Diaz trains alongside unbeaten Felix Verdejo, who has received a great deal of press since making his pro debut in 2012. That said, Diaz may be starting to create his own buzz based on his performance on Saturday night.

Diaz stopped a game Alcides Santiago in the first round before a boisterous crowd at the Coliseo Ruben Rodriguez in Bayamon, Puerto Rico.

With the win, Diaz improves to 12-0, 7 knockouts. Santiago drops to 5-2, 4 KOs.

The 20-year-old Diaz, who resides in nearby Barranquitas, has slowly come out of Verdejo’s shadow, becoming another Puerto Rican prospect to watch.

After some solid exchanges between Diaz and Santiago in the first half of the opening round, Diaz began to impose his will. He dropped Santiago with a barrage of punches to the head. After Santiago got up, he was met with a series of hooks and crosses, falling back in a corner. Diaz went in for the kill, prompting referee Jose Hiram Rivera to stop the bout at 2:26.

“He caught me with a hook and later with a right,” said Diaz after the fight. “My intent was to box. Once I dropped him, my trainer [and manager Ricky Marquez] yelled at me to finish him.”

In the opening bout of the “Solo Boxeo” telecast, junior lightweight Jason Sosa knocked out the normally-durable Jerry Belmontes in the first round.

With the win, Sosa improved to 17-1-3, 13 KOs. Belmontes falls to 19-8, 5 KOs and has now lost his last five bouts in a row.

Sosa stunned Belmontes midway through the first round, increasing his aggression and punch output afterward. It paid off a minute later as Sosa landed a left hook-right cross to Belmontes’ head, dropping him to the canvas. Belmontes struggled to get up as referee Melva Santos counted him out at 2:39.

Sosa, who is promoted by J Russell Peltz, will likely return to the ring on Oct. 2.

– Junior featherweight Jean Carlos Rivera improves to 3-0, 2 KOs with a first round technical knockout over Jose Roman (0-3). Referee Jose H. Rivera counted the southpaw Roman out at 2:37.

– Lightweight Jean Carlos Torres, who was making his professional debut, knocked out Jonathan Guzman (0-3) with a left jab to the stomach at 1:05 of the first round.