A BIG DEAL
The Olympic Dream That Never Was Long before he became a world champion, Collazo was viewed as one of Puerto Rico’s brightest Olympics hopes. Born in Newark, New Jersey, but raised in the mountainous town of Villalba, Collazo combines elite footwork, sharp ring IQ and surprising punching power despite competing in boxing’s lightest weight class. His dominance in Peru secured
Filipino over 12 rounds to earn a unanimous decision victory that instantly elevated his standing within the sport. It was the moment the boxing industry began taking Collazo seriously and started forgetting that he was “just” a strawweight. “That was the fight where everyone doubted me,” Collazo recalled. “It was a fight where not many people expected me to win. I had never gone 12 rounds before, but we worked hard, and the background I had from my amateur career helped me tremendously. “It was a fight where I got knocked down [in the seventh round] and had my nose broken in the second round. Everything that usually happens to a seasoned professional with 20 fights happened to me in my fifth fight. I got hurt, I learned a lot, and I won the fight that became my ticket to a world title.” His next fight, a fifth-round knockout of Yudel Reyes, was also an eliminator, this time for the WBO belt. And on May 27, 2023, came the fight that changed everything. In
Indio, California, Collazo dethroned then-WBO strawweight titleholder Melvin Jerusalem, systematically attacking the champion’s body and forcing him to remain on his stool after the seventh round. It was only Collazo’s seventh professional fight, which surpassed Alex Sanchez’s record as the fastest ascent to a world title by a Puerto Rican. “El Nene” had done it in his 12th pro bout. “The Melvin fight was a special moment in my life. A dream,” Collazo said. “But more than that, it was the way we achieved that victory. My team and I worked extremely hard
Knockout CP Freshmart) in pursuit of one of his greatest professional ambitions: becoming a unified champion. Niyomtrong entered the fight with a perfect 25-0 record and was one of boxing’s longest-reigning champions. Collazo delivered a masterpiece. He dropped Niyomtrong multiple times before forcing a seventh-round technical knockout, unifying the WBA and WBO titles while also capturing the vacant Ring championship belt. The victory also elevated him into boxing’s pound-for- pound conversation. Managed by Miguel Cotto Promotions and promoted by Golden Boy, Collazo recently earned an official place in The Ring’s pound-for-pound rankings. Few strawweights have ever appeared on that list. One who did was Mexico’s legendary Ricardo “Finito” Lopez, who retired unbeaten in 52 professional fights and was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2007. Today, despite sharing the spotlight with active world titleholders such as Xander Zayas and Rene Santiago, Collazo
his participation in the Tokyo Games. Then came an unexpected obstacle.
New regulations jointly implemented by the International Olympic Committee and the sport’s amateur governing bodies eliminated the 49-kilogram division from the Olympic program, making the 52-kilogram class the lowest available. Puerto Rico had already qualified a boxer in that weight category: current flyweight standout Yankiel Rivera. The IOC’s decision cornered Collazo into a difficult position. His options were limited: Face Rivera in a box-off for Puerto Rico’s Olympic spot, move up in weight even further or retire from amateur boxing and turn professional. He chose the last option.
and followed a detailed strategy.” A remarkable reign had begun.
Becoming a Unified and Ring Champion As impressive as his victories over Saludar and Jerusalem were, Collazo’s defining moment was still ahead. On November 16, 2024, in Saudi Arabia, Collazo faced undefeated WBA titleholder Thammanoon Niyomtrong (aka
stands as the only male Puerto Rican fighter among The Ring’s pound-for-pound elite, further highlighting the significance of his rise. Amanda Serrano is doing her part on the women’s side of the sport. “It hasn’t been an easy road,” Collazo admitted. “But it hasn’t been overly difficult either, because I’ve worked hard for every achievement I’ve accomplished so far and for the opportunity to be among the pound-for-pound best. We’ve battled and executed.” The Secret Behind His Success Spend a few minutes talking with Collazo and it quickly becomes clear why he continues to improve. His approach to boxing resembles a classroom lecture more than a fighter’s interview (hence the “Pupil” nickname). Conversation quickly transforms into analysis as he evaluates his achievements and reflects on a career that, despite its success, still has much room to grow. It is also where he credits the work ethic that has guided him since his earliest days as an amateur. Long before he represented Puerto Rico on international stages, and long before he became one of boxing’s most respected champions, that discipline became his foundation. Collazo is quick to acknowledge the people who accompany him into battle: trainers Juan De Leon and Carlos Ortiz.
“I was projected to be among the medal contenders. I was one of the favorites to win a medal,” Collazo told The Ring. “I truly wanted to fulfill that dream, but God gave me other opportunities, and here we are.”
From an Olympic Dream to a World Title
Collazo didn’t waste time. He turned professional in early 2020 and immediately announced his arrival with two knockout victories. Following his third bout, he settled at strawweight – a division that already had a rich Puerto Rican legacy. At 105 pounds, the island nation had produced former strawweight and junior flyweight king Ivan Calderon, who was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2024. Before “Iron Boy,” the pioneer of the division was Alex Sanchez, who became Puerto Rico’s first strawweight world titleholder in 1993 during a golden era for the division. Even so, the weight class has historically lived in the shadows of the heavier and more glamorous divisions. By the end of 2021, Collazo’s blend of skills and power had brought his record to 4-0 (3 KOs). In July 2022, he faced veteran former world titleholder Vic Saludar in a WBA world title eliminator in only his fifth professional bout. Many questioned whether the opportunity had come too soon. Collazo answered emphatically. On the undercard of Ryan Garcia-Javier Fortuna in Los Angeles, he outboxed the experienced
The Haro victory was Collazo’s third defense of the Ring 105-pound title.
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