Jhonny González is back on top…

The 31-year-old Mexican professional boxer stopped Abner Mares late in the first round on Saturday night to reclaim the WBC Featherweight Championship in dramatic fashion.

González (55-8, 47 KOs) dropped the previously unbeaten Mares twice late in the first round, flattening the 126-pound belt-holder with a left hook. Mares appeared to be hurt when he got back up, and González knocked him down again with a combination along the ropes.

Referee Jack Reiss stopped the fight with 5 seconds left in the first round.

González, known for his impressive knockout power, also has been stopped three times in his up-and-down career.

Gonzalez held the WBC title for nearly 18 months before losing it to Daniel Ponce De Leon in a technical decision last September, and he was knocked down during one of his two previous victories this year.

Mares (26-1-1) held titles at 118 and 122 pounds before claiming the featherweight belt last May, stopping Ponce De Leon for his third world title belt. The popular Los Angeles-area fighter had sizable crowd support, but González silenced his fans with two dramatic knockdowns.