By Jake Donovan
A fight teetering on chaotic ended in bizarre - yet perhaps fitting - fashion, as Terrel Williams claimed a 9th round disqualification win over Prichard Colon in their NBC-televised opener Saturday afternoon in Fairfax, Virginia.
(NOTE:
Colon was taken to Fairfax Hospital prior to the start of the main event between Lamont Peterson and Felix Diaz, due to vomiting, fainting and dizzy spells in his dressing round following his bout.)
Both fighters flirted with disaster early in the fight, prompting referee Joe Cooper to issue warnings that he would stop the fight if they didn't clean up their act. The actions of the third man were reminiscent of his performance in Lamont Peterson's upset win over Amir Khan in Dec. '11.
Colon was docked two points in round five for what was ruled an intentional low blow after previously getting rocked. Williams had taken over the fight by that point, going tooth and nail with the unbeaten Puerto Rican early on before surging ahead.
However, the undefeated welterweight from California was hit with a one-point deduction in round seven for hitting Colon in the base of his skull. The sequence came as Colon was once again hurt, and had turned his back on his opponent. However, Williams had time to reel it in yet still let go with a punch to the back and then to the skull, thus losing a point in accordance with Cooper's earlier warning to both fighters.
Williams took the fight out of the judges' hands thanks to a dominant ninth round. Colon was floored twice in the round, including just before the bell as he fell face-first to the canvas. He was out of it to the point of causing mass confusion in his own corner, as his gloves were removed at the end of the round.
The referee questioned the tactic, at which point Colon's corner claimed ignorance of their being one more round. A full minute had passed heading into the 10th and final round, but Colon decided to sit on his stool as his team attempted to get him fight ready.
The sequence took far too long for Cooper's liking, issuing a disqualification on the spot.
Williams advances to 15-0 (12KOs) with the win in his first fight away from the West Coast.
Colon, who scored a knockout win over badly faded Vivian Harris just five weeks ago, falls to 16-1 (13KOs) with the first loss of his career.
The bout aired live in a special Saturday afternoon edition of
Premier Boxing Champions
(PBC) on NBC.
J
ake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com.
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