Murodjon Akhmadaliev wanted to send a message to the best fighter in the division and arguably the world.

Mission accomplished.

There was not an ounce of fat in The Ring No. 2 contender's third-round knockout of Mexico's Ricardo Espinoza. Akhmadaliev scored three knockdowns to force the stoppage at 2:59 of the third round Saturday on DAZN from Salle des Étoiles in Monte Carlo, Monaco.

Akhmadaliev (13-1, 10 KOs) claimed the interim WBA junior featherweight title with the win. The bout was his first in exactly 52 weeks, as an injury and subsequent unsuccessful pursuit of The Ring/undisputed junior featherweight champion Naoya Inoue (28-0, 25 KOs) left him inactive.

“I missed the ring very much," Akhmadaliev told DAZN's Jamie Ward after his second straight victory. "I'm very happy about this (result)."

Akmhadaliev previously held the IBF and WBA junior featherweight titles. He lost both to the Philippines' Marlon Tapales (39-4, 20 KOs), The Ring No. 1 junior featherweight contender, last April 8 in San Antonio, Texas. The split decision was further disputed by many who felt Akhmadaliev deserved the nod.

Such was the price of leaving a fight in the hands of the judges.

Tapales went on to face Inoue, who won their Ring championship and full unification bout via tenth-round knockout last Dec. 26 in Tokyo. Akhmadaeliev emerged as Inoue's WBA mandatory 10 days prior to that night, in a sixth-round knockout of unbeaten Kevin Gonzalez last Dec. 16 in Glendale, Arizona.

That same level of intensity was on that display Saturday. Akhmadaeliev immediately established his jab against Espinoza (30-5, 25 KOs). It paved the way for a stream of left hands that repeatedly found a home on his overmatched challenger.

Akhmadaliev mixed in his right hook, one which landed flush early in the second round. Espinoza shook off the blow but struggled with a response. He managed to land a body shot but Akhmadaliev responded with a series of left hooks off the back foot.

The beginning of the end came midway through the third. Akhmadaliev sent Espinoza crashing to the canvas with a left hand to the chin. Espinoza beat the count but was back on the deck roughly 30 seconds later.

Akhmadaliev closed the show with a brutal power punching display in the final 30 seconds. A right hook rocked Espinoza, who was on borrowed time until a left hand put down the visiting Mexican for a third time. Referee Jean Robert Laine waved off the contest without issuing another count.

There was only one stated target after the fight.

Akmhadaliev is all too aware of Inoue's disinterest in honoring his WBA mandatory. The Ring No. 2 pound-for-pound fighter satisfied his WBC obligation versus Luis Nery (35-2, 27 KOs; The Ring No. 4 122-pound contender) earlier this year and is next set to face IBF No. 1 contender Sam Goodman (19-0, 8 KOs) on Jan. 24 in Tokyo.

Wedged in between was a voluntary defense versus TJ Doheny (26-5, 20 KOs; No. 8 at 122 by The Ring) in September. That fight drew the ire of Akhmadaliev and his team, given an Inoue fight was not only ordered but scheduled to go to purse bid.

"If he doesn’t want to fight me, he needs to explain," insisted Akhmadaliev. "When I was champion, I followed the rules. He should follow the rules as well. I had mandatories and made them without any discussion.

"I need [an] explanation because I am here and ready for the fight."

On the other side of the ocean, Matchroom Boxing representatives renewed its plea with the WBA to rule on the matter during its annual convention in Orlando, Florida.

A ruling is expected Sunday during the championships and mandatory contender portion of the event.

Understandably, Akhmadaliev and his surrounding team want answers now.

"We've delivered them the [Inoue-Akhmadaliev] fight," noted Matchroom chairman Eddie Hearn. "It's not been called once, it's been called twice by the WBA. The first time they paid for an exception to duck MJ. The second time was cast iron in writing. They found a way to avoid him again.

"Naoya Inoue is a legend in the sport, we have to respect him. But there's one thing he hasn't got—and that's Uzbek power. There is only one fighter in the division that can even compete with him... this man will beat [Inoue]."