BleauLive Theater at Fontainebleau Las Vegas - Brian Norman Jr. (27-0, 21 KOs) waited 10 months to defend his world title, but he only needed 10 minutes.

The 24-year-old retained his WBO crown with a third-round TKO over Puerto Rican contender Derrieck Cuevas (27-2-1, 19 KOs).

The two traded bombs early, but the threat of each other’s power tempered the exchanges. Norman began pawing with the jab and digging to the body to create openings, and in round two, he buzzed Cuevas with a left hook that triggered a series of shots.

Another left hook in the third dropped Cuevas. He beat the count but failed to respond to referee Tom Taylor’s instructions, prompting the stoppage at 2:59.

The next target for Norman is a unification showdown. On April 12, Jaron Ennis and Eimantas Stanionis will collide for the IBF, WBA, Ring world titles in Atlantic City - and the WBC strap is currently held by Mario Barrios.

Norman said, “I feel wonderful. I had a little ring rust to start off, but you saw that I shook that off real quick.”

“I was just getting back into it. I was out for 10 months. So, it was just about getting back into the field and being in front of everybody. As you saw, it wasn’t a struggle at all. Great opponent. Only has one defeat. And you saw what I did to him.”

“I want one of these {other} belts. I see them out here trying to make unification fights. Where’s my little piece at?”