Former Carl Frampton for, Chris Avalos has been knocked out again. The American, who endeared himself to Irish fans when he unsuccessfully challenged for The Jackal’s IBF super bantamweight title back in February, was stopped inside five rounds by Mexican hotshot Óscar Valdez.

The bout headlined a night of boxing, screened on TruTV, at the Las Vegas Cosmopolitan.

‘The Hitman’ jumped up to featherweight to face the unbeaten prospect, and was badly outclassed and outgunned.

Valdez won every minute of the fight, knocking down the Californian in the third round before referee stepped in midway through the fifth.

The power-punching Mexican 24 year old had previously been defeated by Mullingar’s John Joe Nevin in the quarter-finals of the 2012 London Olympics.

Avalos, who falls to 26(14)-4(2) , will now face a challenge to remain a top-level contender in the sport, while Valdez, now 17(15)-0), will be aiming for titles in 2012.