Eimantas Stanionis was well on his way to picking up his most notable win to date.

He will instead have to settle for a terrific performance in a fight that ultimately won’t count on his official record.

A clash of heads left former WBA welterweight titlist Luis Collazo with a cut inside his right eyelid and unable to continue in his Fox-televised clash with the unbeaten Stanionis. Because the bout did not reach the end of four rounds—falling 0:39 shy of the mark—the final result is a No-Contest in the main event of a PBC on Fox tripleheader.

Saturday evening live at The Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The massive age difference well reflected in the opening round, with the 26-year-old Stanionis—who represented Lithuania in the 2016 Rio Olympics—constantly beating the 40-year-old Collazo to the punch. Stanionis controlled the action with his jab, also marking up Collazo’s left eye courtesy of several straight right hands finding the mark.

Collazo vowed prior to the fight that he would go out with a bang, of the realization that his fight with Stanionis could be the last of his career. The Puerto Rican southpaw let his hands go in round two, connecting with right hooks to the body and left hands upstairs. Stanionis took the shots well and was otherwise in control of the action, though reminded that he was very much in a fight.

Both boxers found success with the hook in round three, Collazo from the southpaw stance early in the frame only to leave himself open for a counter right hand by Stanionis. As the round progressed, Stanionis landed with left hooks and digging body shots, while Collazo did his best to stand his ground and offer return fire.

Stanionis was enjoying his best round to this point in the fourth, battering Collazo with jabs, left hooks and right hands. Collazo didn’t show any desire to quit, although Stanionis was doing his best to force that occurrence.

It would come, though just not in the manner in which Stanionis expected.

Stanionis snapped back the head of Collazo in round four and was sensing that a stoppage was well within sight. The two moved inside, colliding heads and leaving Collazo with a cut over his right eye and forced to drop to his knees.

Time was called, as referee Charlie Fitch informed the former titlist that he had five full minutes to continue. Collazo took as much time as was allotted before being summoned to visit the ringside physician. Collazo was unable to stand on his feet under his own power, leaving Fitch no choice but to wave off the contest.  

It marks the seconds straight time where Collazo sees a fight end on a cut caused by a clash of heads. He was unable to go the ten-round distance with unbeaten Kudratillo Abdukakhorov in their October 2019 battle in Philadelphia, though the bout lasted long enough to where it could to the scorecards. Collazo dropped a lopsided unanimous decision, with many calling for his retirement at that time.

Collazo threatened as much earlier this year, showing frustration over an inability to secure a desired opportunity in the ring. One finally came in the form of a fight with Stanionis, though the sense is that it will be the last of his respectable 21-year career which now stands at 39-8 (20KOs), with one No-Contest.

Stanionis remains at 13-0 (9KOs) though delivering his second notable performance of 2021. The unbeaten prospect is on the verge of becoming a contender, with Saturday’s notable performance coming on the heels of a win over former title challenger Thomas Dulorme this past April.  

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox