Collazo dethrones Jerusalem by 7th round KO

Oscar Collazo made history by becoming the fastest Puerto Rican world champion in his seventh fight by stopping defending champion WBO Melvin Jerusalem of the Philippines in the seventh round at the Fantasy Springs Casino in Indio, CA Saturday night (Sunday Phl time).

Jerusalem started very well by dictating the tempo of the fight in the first three rounds connecting with precision punches that held Collazo at bay and inflicting a welt below the left eye of the Puerto Rican.

But after Collazo connected to the head and body of Jerusalem in the fourth round everything abruptly changed for Jerusalem who suddenly was on his back foot and was too timid to return fire.

A continuing body shots by Collazo going forward broke down Jerusalem who appeared to lost steam by the fifth round and by the sixth clearly was already a defeated man with Referee Ray Corona just waiting for the right moment to stop the fight.

Although Jerusalem tried his best to stay standing and threw several counter-puches in the midst of Collazo’s undending barrage of combos, it was clear that there was nothing left from the Filipino. But he was able to finish the round.

Back in his corner, Jerusalem was asked by his trainer Michael Domingo if he wants to continue where he shook his head in surrender.

The undefeated Collazo thus captured the WBO minimumweight title in his seventh pro fight and delivered to his promoters Golden Boy and Miguel Cotto Promotions the belt in exchange for their faith in his capabilities.

Jerusalem lost the title he won by knocking out Masataka Taniguchi in Japan last January 6 and absorbed the third loss of his career and dropped to 20-3-0, 12KOs.

After Jerusalem’s loss, the Philippines now has only one world champion in Marlon Tapales. —