The 25 year-old, who holds a near 85% knockout ratio, first floored ‘Juanma’ with a strong right hand, before a huge left laid the Puerto Rican flat on his back and referee Rafael Ramos decided rightly Lopez was in no fit state to continue.
The early ending represents a third in the last six fights for two-weight world champion Lopez, 29, who has struggled against top-class punchers since moving up from super-bantamweight in early 2010.
Garcia looks nailed on to move up to super-featherweight next after failing to make the 126lb limit at the pre-fight weigh-in and could conceivably be handed an immediate shot at WBO title holder Roman ‘Rocky’ Martinez.
On the undercard, young light-welterweight star Terence Crawford scored his 21st career win after becoming the first stop tough Mexican Alejandro Sanabria with a sixth round KO, whilst light-middleweight contender Vanes Martirosyan is now 33-0-1 after overcoming Ryan Davis in just two rounds.
