Light heavyweight Thomas Williams Jr. (16-0, 11 KOs) scored a dramatic first round stoppage over Cornelius White (21-3, 16 KOs) at the Little Creek Casino in Shelton, Washington.
The bout was the main event on ESPN’S Friday Night Fights.
Williams, a southpaw, exploded out of the gate in the opening stanza. A long left hand floored White just past the thirty second mark of the round.
White, from Texas, got up and appeared fine. A few seconds later, Williams sent White staggering to the ropes. Williams went for the kill, but instead ran directly into a hard left hand that knocked him down. The undefeated fighter got up with an amazed look on his face.
“He surprised me,” said Williams of the knockdown. “I think knocking White out in the opening stanza makes a statement.”
Williams, who hails from Baltimore, was soon back in control. As White ducked inside, a right hand counter bounced off the top of his head. White went down on his side. This time he was hurt. He got up at seven, but his legs were still on the canvas.
Williams wasted no time. He jumped on the shaky White and unleashed a barrage of punches forcing the referee to call a halt to the bout.
The time was 2:49 of the opening round.
Williams would like to challenge light heavyweight kingpin Sergey Kovalev next year.
