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Pryce Taylor Wins Near-Shutout Over Issac Munoz
American heavyweight Pryce Taylor kept his undefeated record
intact with a near-shutout 10-round unanimous decision
victory over Mexican challenger Issac Muñoz on Saturday in
the debut Wynn Records Network event from Coliseíto Pedrín
Zorrilla in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
The five-fight broadcast was promoted by Universal
Promotions and Salita Promotions in association with Wynn
Records and was the first in a long-term partnership between
Salita and Wynn that will develop and test some of boxing’s
most promising prospects and contenders.
Taylor (13-0, 8 KOs) controlled the fight from the outset
and landed the harder shots throughout the bout. The
6-foot-4 fighter from Brooklyn, N.Y., leaned on his height
and reach advantage to dictate the pace and frustrate the
veteran Munoz (18-3-1, 15 KOs), whose only previous losses
came against top American heavyweights Jermain Franklin Jr.
and Richard Torrez Jr.
Taylor, who showboated throughout the bout, seemingly scored
a knockdown in the closing seconds of the sixth with a
sweeping overhand left, however referee Roberto Ramirez did
not recognize the knockdown.
The bout was scored 98-92, 98-92, 97-93.
“The fight would have went differently if they called the
knockdown,” Taylor said. “If you’re being supported by the
ropes that’s a knockdown. If it was called, it would have
made him want to fight harder so he could win. It changed
the momentum of the fight..
“I want all the fighters. Efe (Ajagba) , I see you on the
bench. Come off the bench and fight me. Kingsley (Ibeh), I’m
going to take you out. All the fighters, Daniel DuBois,
Anthony Joshua, I want the smoke.”
In a special featured attraction, undefeated Puerto Rican
women’s boxing sensation Kiria Tapia (10-0, 1 KOs) put on a
show for her hometown fans, winning a thrilling unanimous
decision over Alba Sanchez, scored 80-72 by all three
judges.
The fight was a slugfest at times, with both fighters
landing massive shots. Sanchez (9-5) displayed a tremendous
chin and the fight looked like it could have been stopped at
multiple times over the eight rounds.
“I’m very happy for the support from Puerto Rico,” Tapia
said. “I was looking to see if I could get the right punch
for a knockout. It didn’t happen but I was looking for the
knockout. I’m very supportive of Amanda Serrano and
everything she’s done for women’s boxing. Maybe we’ll fight
in the future.”
The events on the recently launched Wynn Records Network are
designed to develop and test some of boxing’s most promising
prospects and contenders, giving fans a first look at the
future generation of stars as they take on meaningful
step-up fights.
“It was an incredible night of boxing in San Juan, Puerto
Rico,” said Dmitriy Salita, President of Salita Promotions.
“From the opening bell of the first fight to the final round
of the main event, the fans were treated to competitive,
action-packed matchups. Johanna Wonyou earned a hard-fought
victory, while Litzy Vázquez captured the world title with a
thrilling majority-decision win. Heavyweight prospect Pryce
Taylor showed another side of his game by going the full 10
rounds for the first time in his career in a competitive
battle, and hometown favorite Kiria Tapia electrified both
the crowd in San Juan and fans watching around the world on
Wynn Records Network. This event reflected exactly what
Salita Promotions is committed to delivering—meaningful
fights, rising stars, and unforgettable nights of boxing. We
can’t wait to come back to work with Universal Promotions
and Wynn Records and continue to grow boxing in Puerto
Rico.”
Ruben Branson, CEO of Wynn Records, agreed: “I want to give
it up to the fans here in Puerto Rico – the energy was high
all night. I’m excited for this partnership with Salita
Promotions and Universal Promotions as we expand Wynn
Records with the roll out of Wynn Network, bringing
entertainment to the next level with cultural influence.
This is just the first fight. We will be back.”
In Saturday’s co-featured bout, undefeated challenger Litzy
Vazquez dethroned defending champion Edith Soledad Matthysse
to capture the Women’s WBA Interim Super Lightweight Title
via majority decision (95-95, 98-92 twice) in a competitive
and back-and-forth fight.
Matthysse (21-17-1, 4 KOs) came forward in her typical
aggressive fashion, but Vazquez fought well off her back
foot and pocketed the first three rounds on all three
judges’ scorecards. The 24-year-old Mexican Vazquez (9-0, 6
KOs) displayed superior movement and utilized her reach
advantage over the 45-year-old Matthysse.
The championship rounds in the ninth and 10th had the best
action, with Vazquez struggling to contain the hard-charging
Matthysse. Both fighters traded shots until the closing
bell, fighting at close range in back-and-forth action that
brought the crowd to its feet. Vazquez won both the ninth
and 10th rounds on two of the three judges’ scorecards.
“I’m extremely happy with this victory,” Vazquez said after
the fight. “I have nothing but respect for Matthysse – she’s
a true champion. It was a tough fight, but we executed our
game plan and did what we had to do in the ring. This was my
promise to my promoter, Universal Promotions.
“Today I fulfilled a lifelong dream. We’re just getting
started. Mexico and Puerto Rico have a new world champion.”
In the second bout of the broadcast, 22-year-old undefeated
super featherweight prospect and Puerto Rican favorite
William Colon knocked out veteran Jeremy Triana in the round
seventh round (1:38 TKO) in an impressive and dominating
performance.
Colon (10-0, 6 KOs) teed off on Triana from the opening
bell, using his significant reach advantage to control the
pace and fight from a distance. Colon won every round of the
fight and landed punishing shots at will with an impressive
mix of punches. He landed more than a dozen unanswered shots
midway through the seventh, forcing referee Moises Rivera to
step in and stop the contest.
In the opening bout on Wynn Records Network, Johanna Wonyou
kept her undefeated record intact with a hard-fought
unanimous decision over Tania Walters to win the WBA
International Women’s Bantamweight title. The 10-round bout
was scored 99-91, 97-93, 96-94.
Wonyou (13-0, 6 KOs) was in control through the first four
rounds, dictating the pace and largely keeping Walters at
bay. Walters (7-6, 2 KOs) appeared to find another gear
starting in the fifth and began charging forward, landing
the hardest shot of the fight in the sixth round. The eighth
was the best round of the fight, with Walters fighting to
close the gap, but Wonyou had pocketed enough rounds and won
comfortably on all three judges scorecards.
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