FILIPINO Jayson Vayson’s first shot at a world title ended in confusion after his corner inexplicably threw in the towel in the seventh round, allowing defending champion Oscar Collazo to retain his WBA and WBO minimumweight title belts on Sunday (Manila time) in Indio, California.
Referee Thomas Taylor stepped in and stopped the fight upon seeing the corner of Vayson conceding the match just as the two were in the middle of a fierce exchange.
A chorus of jeers rained down the Fantasy Springs Casino stands shortly after the stoppage which came at the 1:41 mark of the round.
Collazo, who scored a first-round knockdown after catching Vayson with a right hook, retained his belts for the sixth straight time and hiked his unbeaten record to 13-0 with 10 KOs.
It was a disappointing loss for the 27-year-old Vayson in his initial attempt at a world championship, as the native of Agusan Del Sur was giving the Puerto Rican champion a tough time.
Vayson slipped to a 14-2-1 record including 8 KOs.
He was actually trailing on all three scorecards, 59-54, 59-54, 59-54, at the time the fight was stopped.
'I could manage it'
But while he was the recipient of two crunching body punches just moments before the bout came to an end, Vayson stressed he’s not hurt and wasn’t bothered.
“I felt the punches in the body, but I felt I could manage it,” the Filipino said.
Nonetheless, Vayson said he respects the decision of his corner.
“My corner thought I was breaking. I wanted to fight. (But) I respect the decision of the corner for the safety of the boxer.”
The champion from Newark, New Jersey said it was a matter of time before he finally stop Vayson on his track.
“I was putting a lot of pressure on him, digging in the shots. That’s the round we we’re going for the finish,” said the undefeated Puerto Rican.
“I knew I was going to apply pressure from the first round. I was breaking him down. I knew I was going to get him.”
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