Josh Taylor knocks out Miguel Vazquez in nine

This is a couple days late, I’ll admit, but the boxing world was rather occupied this past weekend with ShoBox and HBO.

Miguel Vazquez has been a thorn in the lightweight and super lightweight divisions’ collective sides since beating Ji-Hoon Kim for the IBF title in 2010. His two losses since that win were highly questionable decisions against Mickey Bey and Argenis Mendez. He had only ever been dropped once, in 2009 by Breidis Prescott.

Josh Taylor wrecked him on Saturday.

Taylor (11-0, 10 KO), who ran through Ohara Davies earlier this year in a clash of top prospects, battered “El Titere’s” body on his way to a ninth-round finish, forcing Vazquez (39-6, 15 KO) to stay down for the full count.

While Vazquez may be past his best, stopping him is a massive statement that caps off a terrific year for Taylor. Here’s hoping at least one member of the WBC’s four-man tournament winds up fighting him in the near future.