Oscar Collazo Labels Valdez A Two Round Job After Late Replacement Drama

“I don’t let that affect me. Golden Boy did the work. They told me to stay relaxed. I did my job, made weight, and stayed relaxed,” Collazo said at Thursday’s final press conference.

“When we’re in camp, we don’t exactly train for the fighter. We spar lefties, we spar righties, we spar aggressive fighters, we fight people in the back foot. So things like this don’t bother me.

“We could do the same strategy with each fighter. Give me one or two rounds, and I got them.”

Golden Boy Promotions president Eric Gomez said finding a replacement opponent on short notice proved difficult once Canoy pulled out.

“Trust me, not too many people are running to fight Oscar Collazo,” Gomez said. “He’s a bad man, in a good way. It’s always gonna be hard to get someone to fight a world-class fighter last minute.”

Gomez also revealed that Golden Boy has discussed future opportunities for Collazo at flyweight.

“One of the things we talked about is maybe him moving up and fighting Ricardo Sandoval at 112,” Gomez said. “Collazo does want to unify and get all the belts. I don’t think it will be next, but we have talked about it.”

Collazo currently holds the WBA, WBO, and Ring titles at minimumweight and has repeatedly expressed interest in becoming the division’s undisputed champion. Gomez indicated that bigger fights could await if the Puerto Rican star eventually decides to move up five pounds.

Sandoval is also promoted by Golden Boy and has emerged as one of the leading contenders in the flyweight division. Gomez said a fight between the two has already been discussed internally, although Collazo’s immediate focus remains Saturday’s title defense against Valdez at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California, live on DAZN.