Saturday signaled PBC and Showtime’s return to boxing headlined by a Junior Featherweight Championship bout between two previously undefeated contenders, Tramaine Williams (19-1, 6 KOs) and Angelo Leo (20-0, 9 KOs).
The original main event saw Leo facing off with top contender Stephen Fulton. However, days before the event Fulton tested positive for COVID-19 and was taken off of the card. Tramaine Williams was originally slated to compete in the co-main event against Ra’eese Aleem, who won via TKO in the 10th round against replacement fighter, Marcus Bates.
Early in the fight, Williams displayed some slick counter punching out of his southpaw stance. Many suspected Leo may have issues with the change from the orthodox fighter in Fulton to Williams. In the first two rounds, it appeared it may have been the case, but Leo quickly dispelled those concerns.
Leo found more success starting in the third and fourth, specifically towards the end of the latter, where he was able to get inside Williams ranging punches. Once Leo was able to get inside of Williams long punches, the fate of the fight was set.
Leo aimed to make the fight as rough and tough as possible, and certainly succeeded. Notably, Leo came out in he sixth round and immediately took the fight directly to Williams. Williams had been previously holding once Leo got inside, however in this round Williams began to engage in the close quarters exchanges, which did not fair well against the body attack of Leo.
Williams clearly had his success on the outside, however, Leo was able to eliminate that space and get the better of most– if not all– of the exchanges on the inside throughout the course of the Championship bout.
Later in the fight, the eighth round saw some of Leo’s best work, throwing and landing at an impressive rate. His focus was clear, high output and body work. It appeared as though he had hit his stride and fully found his range in the round, likely widening his lead on the cards.
In the final round, with the bout likely already won, Leo continued his ruthless pace. He displayed no desire to coast, keeping his foot on the pedal as if the fight was dependent on the last round. As the final bell rang, it was clear Leo had earned his World Title.
Throughout the bout, Leo’s combination punching was on full display; his output, body attack, and forward pressure acted as his vehicle to claiming his first world title in what culminated in a hard fought UD win over the formerly undefeated Williams.
Angelo Leo improved his undefeated record to 20-0 and claimed the vacant 122-pound WBO title. Certainly, Stephen Fulton will be ready to face the newly crowned champion, and we will be eagerly awaiting the two undefeated fighters to finally face each other.
