SAN ANTONIO – Raymond Ford responded well Saturday night to the toughest test of his brief but promising career.

The undefeated featherweight prospect dropped Juan Antonio Lopez twice, once apiece in the first and seventh rounds, on his way to a seventh-round stoppage on the Canelo Alvarez-Callum Smith undercard at Alamodome. Referee Mark Calo-oy stopped their scheduled eight-round junior lightweight bout at 1:14 of the seventh round, just after Lopez got up from the second knockdown of their fight.

Ford’s right hook dropped Lopez to one knee with 1:57 to go in that seventh round. Lopez reached his feet and wanted to continue, but Calo-oy decided he had taken enough punishment during what mostly was a one-sided fight.

The 21-year-old Ford, a 2018 national Golden Gloves champion from Camden, New Jersey, upped his record to 8-0 and produced his fourth knockout.

The 26-year-old Lopez (15-8, 6 KOs), a native Mexican who resides in Dallas, is 3-6 in his past nine fights. He lost by knockout or technical knockout for just the second time in eight years as a pro.

Lopez came to fight, but Ford proved almost immediately that he is the stronger, sharper fighter. He dropped Lopez the first time Saturday night with a right hook, which sent Lopez to the canvas with 15 seconds remaining in the first round.

Lopez attempted to pressure Ford thereafter, yet Ford often made him pay the price.

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.