Richard “Frog” Holmes, runner-up to the winners in the last two years of the Wray and Nephew White Overproof Rum Contender Boxing Series expose, made an ominous start to his 2017 campaign.

As was anticipated, Holmes’ win over Team Canada’s challenger Mike Breton handed Team Jamaica a 3-1 lead in the 15-bout championship.

A veteran in his sixth consecutive appearance in the Series, it took the Team Jamaica gloveman a mere two rounds and 29 seconds to put away Breton via technical knock-out.

By virtue of the win, Holmes moved into the second round from the fourth of the first eight preliminary fights to be on target for a bigger share of the prize money of $3m  along with copping the title of Jamaica’s Ultimate Junior Middleweight Contender.

Holmes, who looked polished and ready for combat, wasted little time to show his superiority over his opponent whom he dropped in the second round with a right hook. Then 29 seconds later, in the third round, dropped him again to the canvas for the second time with a stultifying uppercut.

In the first knockdown, Breton used the ropes to raise himself off his knees for a standing eight count from referee Eon Jardine. The bell then saved him from further punishment in the round.

However, the two minute break between rounds did not allow the Canadian enough time to fully recover from his ordeal of the second round and when “Frog” leapt at him in the third of the five-rounder Breton capitulated to the force of his aggressor. Referee Jardine called in ringside doctor Dr Aundre McDonald for the second time and he advised the bout be stopped after a close examination of Breton.

“No real sweat from this opening bout. We watched his tapes and saw that he is a puncher and he was open to the upper all night. My plan was to set him up and I knew that when I catch him with it flush the fight will be finished. So said, so done and it was all over. As the tournament continues it will become tougher,” said Holmes.

Trainer Francois Duguay, speaking on behalf of Breton, said: “We wanted to put pressure on Holmes because we have watched a video of him before and know that he will break after round three as he uses up a lot of energy in his early rounds. So I asked Mike to put on the pressure but Holmes was wise enough to throw combinations one, two, three small stepped back and Mike got in his distance to throw the uppercut at a good place at the right moment.”

Two Canada-based fighters in Gregory Miller representing Team Jamaica and Frank Cotroni Team Canada will touch gloves in the fifth preliminary round next Wednesday at the same venue over five rounds.