Another fight, another knockout win for welterweight prospect Brian Norman, Jr. 

Norman dropped Demian Fernandez twice before the fight was stopped in the opening round Saturday night at the World Congress Center in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. 

The 20-year-old improves to 21-0, 18 knockouts and has now stopped seven of his last nine bouts. 

Norman was the far-superior fighter, utilizing speed and accuracy to overwhelm Fernandez. Norman dropped Fernandez within the opening minute of the first round and, while Fernandez beat the count, Norman dropped him again with a combination to the head. Referee Brian Stutts stopped the bout at 1:31.

Norman’s most notable bout took place on March 13 of last year on a ShoBox telecast, defeating Flavio Rodriguez by technical decision. In his previous bout on April 10, Norman stopped journeyman Agustine Mauras in round 4. 

Fernandez, who resides in Buenos Aires, Argentina, drops to 13-4, 5 KOs. The 32-year-old has now lost three of his last four bouts. 

In junior welterweight action, Anthony Peterson of Washington, DC returned from a two-year layoff to defeat Jairo Lopez by decision over six one-sided rounds. 

All three judges scored the bout 60-54 for Peterson, who improves to 38-1-1 1 NC, 24 KOs. Peterson is the younger brother of former world junior welterweight titleholder Lamont Peterson. 

Lopez, who resides in Apodaca, Mexico, drops to 26-13, 17 KOs. 

Heavyweight Hasim Rahman, Jr. remained unbeaten, dropping journeyman Nathan Bedwell (5-19-1, 4 KOs) of Lexington, Tennessee, twice before ending matters at 2:01 of the opening round. Rahman improves to 12-0, 6 KOs. 

Father and former world heavyweight champion Hasim Rahman watched another son in action. Junior middleweight Sharif Rahman defeated Donnis Reed (3-9-1, 2 KOs) of Lemon Grove, California by unanimous decision. All three judges scored the bout 60-54 in favor of Rahman, who improves to 5-0, 3 KOs. 

Lightweight prospect Headley Scott of nearby Jonesboro defeated Argentina’s Jonatan Godoy (5-10) by decision over six one-sided rounds. All three judges scored the bout 60-54 in favor of Scott, who improves to 16-1, 12 KOs.

51-year-old Roberto White stopped Colombia’s Fulgencio Zuniga (28-17-1, 25 KOs) at 2:41 of the opening round. White, who resides in North Las Vegas, Nevada, drops to 21-13-2, 21 KOs. 

In welterweight action, Tre’Sean Wiggins snapped a three-bout winless streak, defeating Cristian Dominguez (11-3, 6 KOs) of Las Vegas by unanimous decision. Scores were 58-56, 58-56, and 59-55 for Wiggins, who improves to 12-5-3, 6 KOs. Wiggins resides in Newburgh, New York. 

Junior lightweights Renaldo Gaines of District Heights, Maryland and France’s Nathan Benichou (2-5-1, 2 KOs) fought to a majority decision draw. One judge scored the bout 60-54 for Gaines (10-2-1, 3 KOs) while the other two judges scored the bout 57-57. 

Bobby Batts promoted the card. Cedric Harden was the matchmaker. 

Francisco A. Salazar has written for BoxingScene 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 and RingTV.com. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing.