Tramaine Williams Blasts Out Jose Alfredo Rodriguez in One
Feb 26, 2019 • 4:51 PM ET
By Francisco Salazar
Featherweight Tramaine Williams remained unbeaten late Saturday night, knocking out former world title challenger Jose Alfredo Rodriguez out in the opening round at the Genetti Manor in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania.
The southpaw Williams focused his attack to Rodriguez’s from the opening bell. A left to hand to the stomach hurt Rodriguez, prompting Williams to throw another left to the stomach, this time dropping Rodriguez to the canvas.
Referee Gary Rosato counted Rodriguez out at 1:19.
Saturday night was Williams’ first fight since Mar. 30. Williams spent a few months in prison for an undisclosed crime and was released in October.
Williams was signed to Top Rank, but the promotional company released him after the 26-year-old was arrested and convicted for possession of an assault weapon and narcotics in 2014.
Williams (16-0, 6 knockouts), who resides in New Haven, Connecticut, is now trained by Matt Conroy. He is now promoted by Roc Nation.
Rodriguez, who twice challenged for a junior bantamweight title, drops to 32-9, 19 KOs. The Mazatlan, Mexico resident has now lost his last five bouts.
In junior lightweight action, Rafael Marzan won by unanimous decision over six rounds over Reggie Barnett, Jr.
Scores were 60-53, 59-54, and 57-56 for Marzan, who now resides in Las Vegas and improves to 10-0, 7 KOs.
Barnett, who resides in Chesapeake, Virginia, drops to 6-2, 2 KOs.
Super middleweight Ryan Wilczak (8-0, 4 KOs) of nearby Scranton stopped Keith Debow (5-18-2, 2 KOs) at 48 seconds of the opening round.
Lightweight Frank Trader of Philadelphia won a one-sided decision over veteran German Meraz (61-53-2, 38 KOs). All three judges scored the bout 40-36 in favor of Trader, who improves to 12-2-1, 3 KOs.
Northeast Boxing promoted the card.
Francisco A. Salazar has written for Boxingscene.com since September of 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (Calif.) Star newspaper. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing
