Silent Striker: Jayson Vayson’s Bold Bid for Glory

I tried to start a conversation with Jayson Vayson via Messenger twice, but he didn’t say much in response. He answered my two questions—about his preparation and his desire to fight Oscar Collazo—rather plainly: “OK lang” (just fine) and “Salamat po” (thank you). It’s either that he’s a snob, I’m not a good conversation starter, or maybe he’s simply not used to talking with strangers, for we haven’t met in person.

Regardless, the Philippines’ Jayson “Striker” Vayson is stepping into the biggest spotlight of his career as he challenges Oscar Collazo of Puerto Rico for the WBA and WBO minimumweight world titles. What makes this fight particularly remarkable is that Vayson hasn’t competed at the 105-pound limit in seven years. He’s been fighting at heavier weights, and dropping back down to minimum weight at this stage of his career is a serious gamble. Making that weight isn't just physically demanding—it’s risky. But he's taking that risk because the potential reward is historic: if he wins, the Philippines will hold all four major world titles in the minimumweight division—a rare and powerful statement in global boxing.

Collazo, meanwhile, is undefeated and considered one of Puerto Rico’s most promising champions. He already beat a fellow Filipino, Melvin Jerusalem, who quit on his stool during their 2023 bout—partly due to poor preparation and jet lag. Vayson’s team took that lesson seriously. He flew to the U.S. three weeks ahead of the fight and has been training at Knuckleheads Gym in Las Vegas, adjusting to the time zone and sharpening his form under top trainers. He’s not just preparing physically—he’s preparing smart.

This fight is about more than belts. For Vayson, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance to change his life, elevate Filipino boxing, and prove that calculated sacrifice can overcome the odds. The drama of weight, national pride, and underdog ambition makes this matchup worth watching—regardless of the outcome.

Born on May 11, 1998, in Veruela, Agusan del Sur, Philippines, Vayson competes in the light-flyweight and flyweight divisions with an orthodox stance and a reputation for explosive power and precise timing.

He turned professional in 2016, debuting with a third-round TKO over Frankie Batuon. From there, he steadily climbed the ranks of the Philippine boxing scene, building a solid record and sharpening his skills. A turning point came when he faced Rene Mark Cuarto—an eventual IBF world champion—in a tightly contested bout that ended in a draw. That performance signaled that Vayson was ready for a higher level of competition.

In 2022, he captured the ABCO Asian Continental light-flyweight title, showcasing not just power but tactical ring IQ. However, his first major international test came in early 2023, when he traveled to Japan to face Seigo Yuri Akui. The fight ended in Vayson’s first professional loss, a unanimous decision that stung but didn’t shake his resolve.

What came next was a career-defining moment. In December 2023, Vayson returned to Japan—this time as the underdog—against former world champion Ryuya Yamanaka. Defying the odds, Vayson delivered a brutal second-round TKO, capturing the WBO Asia Pacific light-flyweight title. The boxing world took notice. Suddenly, the quiet Filipino prospect became a serious threat in the division.

In April 2024, he defended that title against Japanese fighter Takeru Inoue in Osaka. Vayson dominated the bout, even scoring a knockdown in the 10th round, and won by unanimous decision. That victory not only secured his title but also boosted him in the global rankings—earning him top-15 positions across the major boxing organizations, including No. 3 with the IBF.

The clash between Collazo and Vayson will be for the WBO, WBA, and The Ring minimumweight world titles—a massive stage for the young fighter from Mindanao. It will be held on September 20 at Fantasy Springs in Indio, California.

Let us all join hands in prayer, and perhaps this man of few words will upset the favored Collazo—and soon join the proud legacy of Filipino world champions.

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(Photo: Champion.info)

The Shadow of Ali-Frazier III in Manila

A half-century since the “Thrilla in Manila” was beamed around the world from the Philippines—the country of birth of boxing great Manny Pacquiao—the nation is preparing for anniversary celebrations to mark the legendary heavyweight showdown between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier. Their third encounter on October 1, 1975, turned into an epic that inspired a generation of boxers and boxing fans like me.

The upcoming boxing event at the 25,000-seat Smart Araneta Coliseum in Cubao, Quezon City—the very same venue of the Thrilla in Manila—has been belittled by a sports scribe who said that, because it features “lightweights” instead of big names in boxing, it insults the memory of the two late legends. While no event can ever surpass the original, it is still worth remembering. For me, who was only 13 years old when it happened, the Ali-Frazier III fever remains alive in my memory and continues to fuel my passion for the sweet science. I was unable to watch the fight, but based on the accounts I read five years later, the bout was held around 10:30 in the morning, and Ali entered the ring as a two-to-one favorite.

Aside from the boxing matches, I’ve learned that the upcoming event on October 29 will also include a gala night to honor those behind the historic bout—such as promoter Bob Arum and referee Sonny Padilla, to name just two. In fact, Ali’s grandson, Nico Ali Walsh—a middleweight with a 12-2 record, including five KOs—is on the card, along with Filipino fighters led by Melvin “El Gringo” Jerusalem, who will headline the main event.

As an avid boxing fan from the province, this affair is a once-in-a-lifetime chance to see, in the flesh, the likes of Marlon Tapales, my province mate Arvin Magramo, Carl Jammes Martin, Emman Bacosa, Weljon Mindoro, Eumir Marcial, among others. It’s also a great opportunity to mingle with personalities from the Philippine boxing circle—names you will probably never see together again on a single boxing card. Just from that alone, the commemoration of the fight that happened half a century ago already means a lot to me.

Also, how could we forget the mutual admiration that Ali and Frazier gave each other? On page 326 of the book Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times by Thomas Hauser (Robson Books, 2004), after the Manila encounter, Frazier said of Ali:

“In Manila, I hit him punches—those punches, those punches—they’d’ve knocked a building down. And he took ’em. He took ’em and he came back, and I got to respect that part of a man. He is a fighter. He shook me in Manila; he won.”

On the other hand, Ali had these touching words for his opponent:

“Joe Frazier is a good man. I couldn’t have done what I did without him, and he couldn’t have done what he did without me. And if God ever calls me to a holy war, I want Joe Frazier fighting beside me.”

So how could Ali and Frazier’s memory be insulted by our effort to celebrate an event that will reach the masses—an event offered free of charge—in the very sport that the two giants, and Manny Pacquiao himself, loved most?

I don’t care about the view that Ferdinand E. Marcos Sr. supposedly used the occasion for politics, or that it even sparked commercialization back then. What matters to me is that, in the spirit of Ali and Frazier’s Thrilla in Manila, I can watch boxing for free and take advantage of Manny Pacquiao’s generosity.

Forgive me for being a simpleton and a casual boxing fan.

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(The Fight City)