Vazquez looks shaky, stops Priolo in comeback bout

(AP) LOS ANGELES - Israel Vazquez overcame a rocky start and a nasty cut to stop Angel Priolo on Saturday night in the ninth round of Vazquez’s comeback fight from a 19-month ring absence.

Vazquez (44-4, 30 KOs) looked shaky in long stretches of his first bout since concluding his phenomenal rivalry with Rafael Marquez early last year. The former 122-pound world champion developed swelling around both eyes, and a 2-inch cut opened over his left eye during the sixth round.

But Vazquez kept fighting and eventually caught up to Priolo (30-8), a Colombian former title contender who has lost seven straight fights. Vazquez knocked down Priolo three times in the ninth, finally forcing the stoppage in the last minute.