20.10.07 – By Ron Hansen: In a shocking upset, heavyweight prospect TJ Wilson (12-1, 8 KOs) stopped Travis Walker (25-1-1, 19 KOs) in 15 seconds of the first round last night at the Raley Field, in West Sacramento, California. The huge, six foot six two hundred and eighty pound Wilson, 32, fighting only the second time in the past three years, immediately backed up Walker, 28, to the ropes with two left hands. Once Wilson got Walker in the corner, he trapped him there and unleashed a flurry of 12 consecutive shots, the last three of which were powerful right hands that had Walker looking hurt and unable to punch back..
The referee Raul Caiz, seeing that Walker was taking on punishment, stepped in and quickly called a halt to the after only 15 seconds of the first round.
Walker immediately began protesting, angrily confronting the referee about what he perceived to be an early stoppage. However, Walker never landed a blow in the fight, and looked stricken as Wilson unloaded a storm of huge punches without any return fire coming his way.
For Wilson, a former U.S. amateur (AAU) Super Heavyweight champion (2000), this win puts elevates his career almost immediately. If he can land a bout with another rising heavyweight, perhaps someone like Chris Arreola, Wilson could could quickly be in the thick of things should he win. For a big man, he looked very impressive, much more so than Jameel McCline, who recently came close to stopping Samuel Peter, the World Boxing Council heavyweight champion. Though Wilson is somewhat heavyweight at 280 lbs, he carries his weight well and has excellent power to go with it.
As for Walker, he’ll likely attempt a rematch with Wilson, thinking maybe that this fight was a fluke. I wouldn’t advise him doing so, though, because Wilson appears to be too fast, powerful and large for him and would likely stop him in the first or second round once again.