Vayson aims to make history
By Joaquin Henson
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 18 Sep 2025
LAS VEGAS. Jayson Vayson got the surprise of his life when manager Brico Santig cancelled his fight against Regie Suganob two months ago for a crack at the unified WBA/WBO minimumweight championship held by unbeaten Puerto Rican Oscar Collazo at the Fantasy Springs Resort and Casino in Indio, California, this Saturday.
Vayson was supposed to face Suganob in Bohol but Santig pulled him out for a chance to make history. If Vayson dethrones Collazo, it will be the first time ever that a weight division is ruled by Filipinos. Pedro Taduran is the IBF champion and Melvin Jerusalem, the WBC titlist.
Five months ago, Vayson walked around weighing 127 pounds. He was down to 112 when Santig got the news from Brendan Gibbons last July that Collazo would stake his two belts against the Agusan del Sur challenger. The other day, Vayson was a trim 106.2 and should easily make the 105-pound limit at the weigh-in tomorrow.
“Kahit champion si Collazo at magaling, lalaban ako para manalo,” said Vayson. “First time ko sa US, first time kong lumaban ng world title. Tiis at tiyaga lang. Ito’y para sa aking partner Shenelyn, ang dalawang anak namin, ang aking bunsong kapatid na pinag-aaral ko at ang mama Elvie ko.” Vayson, the third of five children, was 11 when he was introduced to the sport by his father Cesar who died of an internal hemorrhage at 51 in 2019. He fought in “colorum” bouts as an amateur and was recruited by the Sunshine Boxing Club before turning pro under former Gov. Manny Pinol’s care.
During the pandemic, Vayson was stranded in Baguio and hitched a ride on a vegetable truck to Manila to escape seclusion. Eventually, Vayson earned a reputation as a road warrior and has fought his last seven outings overseas. He cracked the world rankings after stopping former WBO minimumweight king Ryuya Yamanaka in the second round in Kobe, Japan, in 2023. Vayson has scored KOs in his last two bouts in Thailand to push his record to 14-1-1, with eight stoppages.
“Mahirap kalaban si Collazo,” said Vayson’s coach Allan Alegria. “Kung anong gagawin ni Collazo sa ring, ganoon din ang gagawin ni Jayson at higit pa. ‘Di aatras si Jayson.”
Photo: Jayson Vayson with coach Allan Alegria (left) and manager Brico Santig at the Knuckleheads Gym in Las Vegas.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Joaquin Henson.
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