Angelo Leo Becomes WBO Super Bantamweight Champion As SHOWTIME Boxing Returns
Albuquerque’s Angelo Leo (20-0, 9KO) is the new WBO Super Bantamweight Champion after defeating Tramaine Williams (19-1, 6KO) via unanimous decision today (Sat. August 1) inside the Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn.
Leo deservedly captured the vacant title, after controlling the majority of the 12 round contest, with the judges scoring it 117-111, 118-110, and 118-110.
It still hasn’t sunk in yet, it just feels surreal,” Leo said in his post-fight interview.
“The first few rounds, I was just feeling him out, getting his timing, getting the feel of him. I felt him kind of loosening up and breaking down, and that’s when I started putting the pressure on him a little more.”
Williams came into this fight on short notice after Leo’s original opponent Stephen Fulton Jr. withdrew from bout following a positive Covid-19 test. Thankfully, he still had the benefit of a full camp as he had been preparing to meet Ra’eese Aleem (17-0, 11 KO) in the co-main event. The 27-year-old started strong but was eventually worn down by Leo, who landed 248 shots—102 of them being to the body — to Williams’ 196.
“That was the key factor in this fight, the body work and the pressure. I’m pretty sure Albuquerque is celebrating tonight. I think they have four world champions, because you can’t exclude Holly Holm. You have Johnny [Tapia], Danny [Romero], Holly and now me. There’s four champions in that city and I think I’ve made history there, Leo exclaimed.
The 26-year-old will not be resting on his laurels too long as it sounds like the Mayweather Promotions fighter is gearing up to defend his belt within the next 180 days against Fulton Jr.
In the night’s other bouts, Aleem defeated his late notice replacement Marcus Bates (11-2-1, 8 KO) via tenth-round TKO in their super bantamweight clash. However, in terms of sheer spectacle, the most eye-popping moment of the night belonged to light heavyweight Joe George (11-0, 7 KO) who ended his rivalry with Marco Escudero (10-2, 9 KO) with a thundering ninth-round KO.
At the moment the stoppage came, George was down 79-73 and 77-75 on two of the judges’ cards and up 79-73 on one.
What did you think of Leo’s performance?
