A BIG DEAL
“They are the only voices I hear when I’m in the ring,” he said. At the time of our interview, Collazo was preparing to face Filipino contender Joey Canoy in California, where he would make the fourth defense of his unified titles and his eighth defense overall. That fight ultimately fell through due to visa issues, and Collazo blew out late replacement Neider Valdez in two rounds. “Success is something you earn in the gym,” he said. “But communication with your corner is just as important during a fight. “If you start listening to people outside the ring, nothing will work for you inside it. Since my amateur days, I trained myself to listen to my corner, and I still do today. I only listen to them. They know exactly what I’m going to do, and whenever they tell me something, I execute immediately. Not listening to your corner is a huge mistake.” Chasing Undisputed Glory As Collazo entered 2026 with an impressive 14-0 record and 11 knockouts, his ambitions grew even larger. His sights are now firmly set on becoming the undisputed strawweight champion. Having captured the WBO and WBA titles, “El Pupilo” told The Ring that he intends to pursue WBC titleholder Siyakholwa Kuse and IBF counterpart Pedro Taduran.
“You have to congratulate him,” Calderon told The Ring. “Back in my time, and even in the era of Wilfredo Gomez or [Humberto] ‘Chiquita’ Gonzalez, those opportunities did not come that early. That changed years later with fighters like Vasiliy Lomachenko. Oscar came in with tremendous amateur experience and has taken advantage of every opportunity.” Yet Calderon believes that becoming an undisputed champion may only be one part of the equation. For decades, one of the greatest challenges facing the strawweight division has not been talent, but economics. Despite producing world-class champions, fighters in the lighter weight classes have traditionally earned significantly less than their counterparts in boxing’s glamour divisions. According to Calderon, Collazo’s long- term financial success will depend not only on collecting belts, but also on securing high-profile opponents capable of attracting mainstream attention. And Collazo, in Calderon’s view, is already doing his part. “He is doing everything he needs to do. He’s exciting. He’s entertaining. He’s showing people the kind of fighter he is. The next step is getting the type of fights that can elevate his earning power, similar to what Amanda Serrano was eventually able to accomplish.”
South Africa’s Kuse, who took the title from Jerusalem in May, appears interested in a showdown. Collazo hopes that fight can take place as early as September. “In 2026, I want to become the undisputed champion,” Collazo said. “If I [win my next fight], we’ll go after the WBC champion from Africa.” He also has a timeline in mind for a fight with Taduran. “He said he’s willing to fight, and we’re already looking at a unification bout in September. If everything goes well, then in
The Hall of Famer points to historic rivalries, such as the Michael Carbajal-Humberto Gonzalez trilogy that took place at junior flyweight as proof that smaller fighters can become major attractions when paired against the right adversaries. “Those were must-see fights. People wanted to watch them. That’s what helped elevate the division.” Calderon does not see Collazo remaining at 105 pounds forever. He believes the Ring champ has the physical tools to move up successfully to the junior flyweight and flyweight divisions while maintaining the qualities that have made him so popular. The last-minute switch from Canoy to Valdez didn’t prove much, as Valdez was woefully underskilled, but it provided something of a preview with Collazo weighing in at a relaxed 110.6 pounds. “I absolutely see him moving up to 108 pounds and becoming a champion there,” Calderon predicted. “He has the physical frame for it. He rehydrates well and carries his weight comfortably. I also believe he can compete successfully at 112 pounds. When he reaches those divisions, that’s where he could begin earning the kind of money every fighter wants.” As Collazo pursues undisputed status at strawweight, Calderon’s assessment offers a glimpse beyond the immediate goal. The belts may cement his legacy, but the right opponents – perhaps at junior flyweight or flyweight – will ultimately define the full scope of his career.
Collazo’s strawweight dominance has invited comparisons to fellow Boricua and Hall of Famer Ivan Calerdon.
In today’s landscape, Collazo’s ceiling remains extraordinarily high. A quick comparison with Calderon reveals important differences. Without diminishing the accomplishments of the Hall of Famer, Collazo combines excellent technical skill with ring generalship and genuine knockout power. He is a boxer. He is a puncher. And perhaps most importantly, he understands what fans want. Calderon, meanwhile, relied on sublime boxing skills and extraordinary speed to compensate for limited punching power. Where Calderon built his legacy through defensive mastery, Collazo is constructing his with pressure, aggression, activity and heavy hands. If he maintains his current trajectory, he has a legitimate opportunity to become the greatest Puerto Rican champion ever to compete at 105 pounds – a prediction he confidently believes will come true. What excites Collazo most is seeing fans rise from their seats when he lands a punch. “I’ve knocked out my opponents in my last [five] fights, so I think the strategy should remain the same: put my hands on them, apply pressure and knock them down,” he said. “I like
knocking people out. I like getting into a fight and making the crowd erupt. I want the fans to feel that excitement every time I step into the ring. That’s not going to change.” At just 29 years old, Collazo has already become a unified champion, a Ring champion and a pound-for-pound entrant. Yet the feeling surrounding him is that his story is only beginning. Calderon Sees Bigger Opportunities Ahead for Collazo If there is anyone qualified to evaluate Collazo’s future in the strawweight division, it is Calderon. The Puerto Rican legend believes Collazo has already accomplished something extraordinary by capturing a world title so early in his professional career, a feat that was nearly impossible during previous generations.
December we’ll go after the IBF champion.” The road map is clear. The goal is history.
A New Era at 105 Pounds Collazo is thriving in a different era of the strawweights. When he talks about unification fights, he speaks of opportunities that barely existed during Calderon’s reign. Back then, the WBO title wasn’t recognized in Japan, one of boxing’s most important breeding grounds for smaller weight classes. It was not until 2014 that the organization established a significant foothold there. “I always wanted to fight in Japan and experience the country,” Calderon, also a big fan of Collazo, once said. “But the opportunities weren’t there. The WBO didn’t operate in Japan.”
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