Oscar Collazo retained his WBA and WBO minimum weight world titles on Saturday with a seventh-round stoppage of Jayson Vayson, whose corner asked the referee to stop the bout as their man appeared ready to fight on.
Vayson, of the Philippines, was under pressure but still fighting when his assistant trainer stepped up to the ring apron and signaled for referee Thomas Taylor to call a halt to the bout in Indio, California.
Other members of Vayson's team appeared to disagree and Vayson looked shocked.
He said he wanted to keep fighting, but respected his corner's decision on behalf of his safety.
Puerto Rico's Collazo, who won his first 105-pound (48kg) title when he lifted the WBO belt in 2023, was credited with a knockdown when he caught Vayson near the neck late in the first round.
Vayson was effective in working Collazo's body in the fourth, but the champion was leading on all three judges' cards when the fight was stopped and improved to 13-0 with 10 knockouts.
Vayson, who was fighting in the United States for the first time, fell to 14-2 with one drawn, one no-contest and eight knockouts.