Julian Jackson retained his World Boxing Assn....

Julian Jackson retained his World Boxing Assn. junior middleweight title by stopping Buster Drayton in the third round of a scheduled 12-round bout at Atlantic City, N.J.

Jackson capped a minute-long flurry with a booming left hook that sent Drayton to the canvas late in the third round.

Drayton, of Philadelphia, hit his head on the canvas and still looked groggy at the count of five, prompting referee Tony Perez to stop the fight at 2:57 of the round.

Jackson, 27, of the Virgin Islands, is 34-1 with 31 knockouts. Drayton, 34, is 36-11-1 with 28 knockouts.

In an earlier bout, former WBA heavyweight champion James (Bonecrusher) Smith and Michael Rouse of Norfolk, Va., fought to a technical draw.

Smith was in control of the fight when he was cut badly over the right eye by an accidental clash of heads in the third round.

Chief ringside physician Dr. Frank Doggett consulted with referee Randy Neumann and stopped the scheduled 10-round bout.