Jahmal Harvey Stops Pedro Castaneda With Third-Round Knockout in Chicago
Jahmal Harvey stopped Pedro Castaneda at 1:08 of the third round on Saturday night. The TKO came on the undercard of the Floyd Schofield versus Lucas Bahdi event at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.
Harvey improved to 5-0 with four knockouts. Castaneda fell to 9-2-1. The eight-round lightweight bout was streamed on DAZN as part of the Golden Boy card co-promoted with Most Valuable Promotions.
Harvey, a 2024 Olympian fighting out of Oxon Hill, Maryland, entered the night 4-0 with three stoppages.
The finish arrived early in Round 3. Harvey landed a left hand that dropped Castaneda for the first time in his career. Castaneda rose but was clearly compromised, and the referee waved off the fight. Harvey later said he had not intended the punch as a finishing shot.
“I felt great. Everything was clicking,” he said. “I didn’t even throw (the finishing left hand) to knock him out. I kinda threw it as a setup. But I (saw) his eyes when he fell. After he did get up I knew he was hurt bad.”
The stoppage marked Harvey’s fourth consecutive knockout or TKO victory in five professional wins. He had previously stopped Hammet Keb in the second round in August, Daniel Lugo in the fifth round in April, and Marcelo Del Aguila by retirement in the first round of his pro debut in August 2025.
His only decision win came against Kevin Cervantes in December 2025. At 23, he has moved quickly through the early stages of his career under the MVP banner.
Castaneda entered with a 9-1-1 record and five knockouts of his own. The Mexican fighter, listed with the nickname Asesino del KO, had last competed in May 2025 and was stopped by Kaipo Gallegos.
Saturday’s loss was his second professional defeat. The bout was Harvey’s first scheduled for eight rounds, and he needed less than half of the distance.
Harvey has been promoted by Most Valuable Promotions since turning professional. The organization signed him after his Olympic appearance and has placed him on cards that have generated highlight knockouts.
His August stoppage of Keb drew attention for its one-punch finish. The Chicago result adds another early stoppage on a night headlined by a vacant WBA lightweight title fight between Schofield and Bahdi.
What the win means for Harvey’s next step is not yet scheduled. He has spoken previously about staying active and avoiding long layoffs. The result stands as his fifth professional win and fourth by knockout or TKO, continuing a pattern of short nights inside the distance.
