By Francisco Salazar

Junior bantamweight Alexandru Marin is making that transition from prospect to contender.

The 26-year-old Marin scored an impressive knockout victory over former prospect Michael Ruiz, Jr. at the Masonic Temple in Norfolk, Virginia.

The taller Marin (16-0, 11 knockouts), who is originally from Iasi, Romania and now resides in Bethesda, Maryland, went on the attack, raining punches down on Ruiz. The end came at 44 seconds of round two when a combination by Marin staggered Ruiz, eventually dropping him to the canvas and the fight was waved off.

With the win, Marin acquired a regional title belt. Ruiz, from Fresno, California, drops to 12-5-3, 5 KOs.   

The 26-year-old Marin, who has mostly fought on the East Coast, has won six of his last eight bouts by knockout.

Welterweight Jaron Ennis remained unbeaten, stopping the normally-durable Samuel Amaoko in the opening round.

The 20-year-old Ennis (19-0, 17 KOs), who resides in Philadelphia, has won his last nine bouts by knockout. Ennis' management, which includes Cameron Dunkin, hopes he remains active as he did in 2017, when he fought a total of nine times.

Amaoko (23-18, 17 KOs) is originally from Ghana and resides in the Washington, D.C. suburb of Silver Spring, Maryland.

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