Norman pressed the action immediately and looked sharper from the opening round, forcing Wagner onto the defensive with hard right hands and quick combinations. Wagner tried to stay active early, but Norman’s speed and power quickly separated the two fighters.
The finish came in the second round when Norman dropped Wagner for the first time with a heavy right hand during an exchange. Wagner got back to his feet, but Norman quickly went back on the attack and scored another knockdown moments later with a combination that left Wagner badly hurt.
After the second knockdown, Wagner indicated he could not continue, leading the referee to wave off the fight following a brief consultation with the ringside doctor.
Norman said, “I came out trying to take his head out. I swung big. But then decided to chill, work off the jab and stick to my fundamentals. And then I got the job done.”
“Working the body shot was on my mind. I looked at him and saw that he wasn’t very strong in the stomach.”
“I’ve learned a lot with Ronnie Shields. I’m being more calm and cool. And this ring is my home now. We’ll see what’s next. No matter what, I’ll handle business.”
The performance marked an important return for Norman after losing his WBO welterweight title to Haney last November. Norman had been knocked down in the third round of that fight before losing a wide decision, but he showed no hesitation in his first appearance since the defeat.
Norman improved to 29-1 with his 23rd knockout victory, while Wagner dropped to 19-3. The quick finish also keeps Norman positioned for bigger fights at welterweight as he attempts to work his way back into the title picture.
Leave a Reply