Felix Verdejo back on track after fifth-round knockout of Juan Jose Martinez

NEW YORK - Felix Verdejo, Paste BN's 2015 prospect of the year, failed to impress in his last two outings, but there was no such problem Saturday at the Theater at Madison Square Garden.

The Puerto Rican star made easy work of Juan Jose Martinez in his third career HBO fight and appears to be back on track as one of boxing's top young fighters. Verdejo drilled Martinez with a straight right in Round 5 that sent him stumbling, and the 23-year-old lightweight didn't let him off the hook.

Verdejo (22-0, 15 KOs) unloaded with a 40-punch salvo and landed 24, per CompuBox, forcing referee Michael Ortega to halt the 10-round lightweight bout at 2:47 of Round 5.

"I came into this fight knowing my career depended on it," said Verdejo, who underwent left hand surgery last year. "I prepared that way in the gym and that showed in the fight tonight.

"I lost focus - went through things that every young man has but now I am focused on my career."

The 23-year-old was in control from the opening bell. He confused Martinez with lots of lateral movement and punished him with choice shots to the midsection.

By Round 3, Martinez's right eye was busted wide open, but he continued to stand in the pocket and throw power shots, creating an easy target for Verdejo.

And Verdejo didn't miss much. He connected on 63 of 123 power punches (51.2%) and first hurt Martinez in Round 2 with a left hook.

While Verdejo looked great, Martinez (25-3, 17 KOs) was chosen for that purpose. Now Top Rank can begin to step Verdejo's opposition up as he readies for an eventual title shot.

"I trained a lot harder and I adjusted to the pressure I felt in the previous fights," he said. "He was tailor made for me. He came to fight. He stood right there in front of me. It was my kind of fight. I just want to fight the best that's out there."

(Photo of Martinez, left, and Verdejo by AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)