Mikey Garcia became a three division world champion with a stunning return to Las Vegas on Saturday with a thunderous stoppage of Dejan Zlaticanin that could be an early contender for knockout of the year.

After a two-and-a-half year hiatus from the ring due to injury, former featherweight and super featherweight world titlist Garcia faced WBC lightweight champion Zlaticanin at the MGM Grand.

Los Angeles-based Garcia, who showed no hint of ring rust from an enforced layoff resulting from a promotional dispute, used his distance to control the shorter southpaw.

In the third round, Garcia unleashed a snapping uppercut that momentarily stunned the Montenegrin, followed by a left hook to the temple that sent his man stumbling into the ropes.

Garcia didn’t afford his dazed opponent a second to recover his senses: he then detonated a scything right hook to the chin to send Zlaticanin crashing to the canvas.

Zlaticanin was out before his limp body hit the mat. Referee Tony Weeks dispensed with the count and Garcia was the new champion. It is the third belt he has won in as many weight divisions, having previously held the WBO featherweight and super featherweight titles.

Many critics are hailing the spectacular finish as a contender for ‘knockout of the year’ just 28 days into 2017.

Boxing is a family affair for Garcia, who is trained by his brother Roberto “Robert” Garcia, himself a former world champion at super featherweight, at the Robert Garcia Boxing Academy in Oxnard, California.

Garcia, who now has 30 knockouts from 36 professional fights, has revealed that he may move up to light welterweight before the year is out. Another win in that division will tie him with Mexican legend Erik Morales, who became the first Mexican-born boxer to win world titles in four weight divisions when he won the WBC light welterweight title in 2011.

Robert Garcia was not surprised by his brother's fast start and knockout.

"I was not surprised that he started off so fast. What Mikey has done in the gym, I know he is hungrier than before. So he was ready for this title opportunity," Robert said. "There were two rounds where he stunned him a little bit, but he still kept his pace. The knockout just came. He landed a perfect punch.

"We don't wish anything bad to happen to anyone in the ring. Of course we celebrated, but then when I saw he was down for so long, we were obviously worried. We are so glad he is ok now.

"We are waiting to see what is out there. There are a lot of champions at 135. If those fights aren't available, we have no problem going up to 140."