On Friday, January 13, 2017, Juan Carlos Payano (18-1, 9 KOs) returned to the ring after his first career defeat to win a seventh-round TKO victory against Isao Carranza (15-8-1, 9 KOs) at Hialeah Park Racing & Casino in Hialeah, Florida.
The scheduled 12-round Super Bantamweight fight was the co-main event of a three-fight PBC on Spike telecast that featured Erislandy Lara vs. Yuri Foreman in the main event for the WBA Super Welterweight title.
Payano, 32, is a native of the Dominican Republic who formerly held the WBA Super Bantamweight title. Payano won the title via sixth-round technical decision against Anselmo Moreno in 2014.
Payano then fought Rau’shee Warren in September 2015 and June 2016. Payano won the first fight via split decision, but lost the rematch via majority decision.
Tonight Payan made his return after losing for the first time with a dominant victory against Carranza, a 30-year-old native of Mexico City, Mexico.
Carranza had not fought against any reputable opponent before tonight, so he was extremely overmatched against the former world champion.
Though he had a reach and height disadvantage of several inches, Payano quickly moved in and out to land combinations from his southpaw stance. Payano threw and landed shots from odd angles, angles from which Carranza could scarcely defend.
Carranza took a lot of punishment as the fight continued. In Round 7, after seeing Carranza take several unanswered punches, referee James Warring put a stop to the fight. Carranza had been taking too much punishment.
Payano has now been reminded of the taste of victory after having tasted defeat for the first time. However, it remains to be seen if he will fight for a title again in the near future.
The Bantamweight division is stacked with title holders such as Shinsuke Yamanaka, Jamie McDonnell, Lee Haskins, Rau’shee Warren and Marlon Tapales.
What did you think of Payano’s performance? Is another title shot next?
Let us know in the comments section below.
Highlights:
Photos by Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions
