A Bad cut ends Kudratillo Abdukakhorov vs Luis Collazo!
Looking to get back into title contention, aging veteran and former WBA welterweight champion Luis Collazo would have to get by the unbeaten WBC #6 and WBO #11 ranked welterweight contender, Kudratillo Abdukakhorov.
After a slow first half of round one Abdukakhorov would start to land some solid shots. In particular, he would land repeated left hooks as his older adversary would just not let his hands go.
Sensing the slow start in the opening stanza, Collazo would come out pressuring Abdukakhorov who was still landing right and left hands. As the round would continue, both men would stand and exchange wide looping shots.
Round three was by far the best round for Collazo as he continued to bring the pressure. He would start to land hard left hands that clearly shook up his unbeaten counterpart. Still the former champion was eating leather as well as Abdukakhorov would land occasional counter and lead left hooks.
In round five, Abdukakhorov would regain control of the fight as he easily outboxed his opponent with a mixture of body and head shots. At 38 years old, the former champion was starting to show it as he did nothing but follow his opponent around the ring.
Collazo had a nice bounce back round seven, he came out forcing Abdukakhorov back against the ropes where he would rip shots to the body and head forcing his opponent to get on his bicycle.
Continuing the pattern of the Uzbekistani fighter continued to dominate his foe. However, with about fifty seconds left in the tenth and final round, a clash of heads would open a nasty cut over the right eye of of the Puerto Rican.
This would result in the referee and doctor to call an halt to the action.
The scores would read 99-91, 97-93 and 98-92 for Abdukakhorov who would get the nod via technical decision. He improved his record to (17-0, 9KOs).
This was an impressive showing from the undefeated contender who’ll move on in his pursuit of a world title opportunity.
As for Collazo this dismal performance may signal the end of a long career filled with ups and downs.
By: Jerrell Fletcher
