Monessen’s Vasquez loses for first time
Felix Diaz, left, punches Sammy Vasquez during their boxing bout Saturday in Birmingham, Ala.
Monessen native Sammy Vasquez bleeds from above his right eye and lip in between rounds during a bout against Felix Diaz Saturday in Birmingham, Ala. Vasquez suffered his first career loss.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Monessen’s Sammy Vasquez thought he had at least managed to keep his unbeaten record intact Saturday night at Legacy Arena against former Olympic gold medalist Felix Diaz.
But after the fight was originally announced as a majority draw, a recount was requested and Diaz was ruled the winner of the welterweight fight.
The difference came when the referee took a point from Vasquez (21-1) in the final round when his mouthpiece popped out for the third time in the fight. That changed the margin for Diaz (18-1) to 96-93 from one judge and 95-94 from the other two, who initially called it even.
Compubox numbers recorded during the fight had Vasquez, 30, landing 149 of 499 punches, while the 32-year-old Diaz landed 151 of 502.
Vasquez, who entered the fight ranked 10th in the welterweight division by boxrec.com, stayed busy throughout the fight with his jab, trying to take advantage of his four-inch reach.
Diaz, who started slowly, continually tried to get inside and land power punches.
Vasquez, who was a heavy favorite, controlled the fight early with his jab, consistently tagging Diaz in the face. But Diaz opened up in the fourth as the two traded punches in the middle of the round and Diaz landed a big shot late.
Diaz then trapped Vasquez along the ropes late in the fifth round, landing several big shots and opening a cut on Vasquez’ lip that troubled him the remainder of the fight and could have led to his issues with his mouthpiece.
Neither fighter was ever in serious trouble, but in addition to the cut on his lip, Vasquez also was cut above his right eye.
Vasquez, who now lives and trains in Colorado Springs, Colo., was scheduled to fight former welterweight world title holder Luis Collazo. But Collazo suffered a torn calf muscle while training two weeks ago and was replaced on the card by Diaz.
Diaz, who was coming off a majority decision loss to former junior welterweight champion Lamont Peterson last October, won a gold medal at the 2008 Olympics for the Dominican Republic.
The fight was part of the undercard Saturdy night of WBC Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder’s title fight with Chris Arreola.