OAKLAND, Calif. — Middleweight Amari Jones electrified his hometown crowd Saturday night, stopping veteran journeyman Daniel Echeverria in the third round at the Oakland Marriott on Broadway.

Jones (13-0, 12 KOs) delivered a knockout blow at 1:39 of the round, leading referee Dan Stell to stop the fight after Echeverria (21-13, 18 KOs) hit the canvas, unsteady on his feet.

The bout, scheduled for eight rounds, was dominated by Jones from the outset. Echeverria, 32, went down twice before the final knockdown, though neither was officially counted as his legs gave out. Jones, 22, used his athleticism and skill to break down Echeverria, who struggled throughout the brief contest. Jones landed a decisive punch that sent the Mexican to his knees, though the young fighter later questioned the timing of the stoppage.

“Premature stoppage,” Jones said. “The ref saw some things that I didn’t see as a fighter.”

Jones, who trains at the Lion’s Den Boxing Gym in Pittsburg, Calif., entered the ring with rapper DaBoii, with many Oakland celebrities in attendance. The fight marked what could be the first of many hometown bouts for Jones, who is considered one of boxing’s most promising young talents.

“It was live in here tonight,” Jones said. “It doesn’t get any better than home."

Jones, now on a five-fight knockout streak dating back to May of last year, is setting his sights on bigger-name opponents.

“The bigger ones,” Jones said. “All of them, it doesn’t matter.”