OSCAR Collazo is now the WBO and WBA bantamweight champion after a one-sided build-up of Thammanoon Niyomtrong in Riyadh.
Looking to time the right hand, Neumtrong had the difficult task of landing his shots while also staying out of the way of Collazo’s long left hand. The Puerto Rican southpaw was clearly the bigger man, and his dimensions were causing noticeable problems for the Thai fighter.
After suffering through a poor fourth, Nyamtrong needed to come out in the fifth round with extra aggression. A strong, experienced boxer at distance, Nyamtrong was letting many rounds slip away as Collazo enjoyed a comfortable pace. Body shots of Collazo were taking their toll.
The work over continued in round six as Neumtrong landed a flurry of heavy shots, culminating in a well-timed check right hook knockdown. Neumtrong was down again in the seventh with a similar shot that deflated his senses. The end was clearly near. Collazo used his size and strength to intimidate a champion who was suddenly hanging on to his title by a thread.
A left uppercut sent Thamanon Nyumtrong down for the third time and finally out. The referee called it off at 1-29 of round seven.
“A lot of people were skeptical,” Collazo said. “Reigning champion for a long time, a lot of respect. My team said stay on the body and we’ll finish it off.
Oscar Collazo is now 11-0 (8 KOs), while Nyamtrong suffered his first career loss, falling to 25-1 (9 KOs). The new unified champion wants to make an undisputed goal at 105 pounds. Filipino duo Pedro Tadoran (IBF) and Melvin Jerusalem (WBC) hold the other two belts. Collazo defeated Jerusalem to win the first WBO title, so he could realistically sweep the weight class within a year.
