Unbeaten Robert Easter Jr. (17-0, 14 KO) showed why he’s a rising star with a devastating KO at 2:43 in the 5th round over former world champion Algenis Mendez (23-4-1, 12 KOs) in a lightweight fight that finished with the crowd on their feet at the DC Armory on April 1, 2016. Easter, who took a big step up in competition facing Mendez, showed the patience of a season veteran in the early rounds against Mendez who represented the Dominican Republic in the 2004 Olympics and now fights out of Brooklyn. It didn’t take Easter long to get comfortable and pick up his pace in the third and fourth rounds, with an array of body shots and uppercuts, that found their mark against the game Mendez. Easter closed the show when he knocked down Mendez with a devastating one punch knock-out via a stiff right hand. Mendez got up from the knocked down but was unable to continue, forcing the referee to stop the contest. "My performance was okay. I could have done better, but I'm happy. I got touched mor