The match was originally scheduled to be a title match for Collazo’s WBO and WBA minimumweight titles, but was changed to a flyweight bout when Valdez was unable to reach the 105-pound limit. Collazo moved up two weight classes, jumping up to flyweight, and although he only weighed in at 110.6 pounds at Friday’s weigh-in, his power carried on fight night.
When Chris Mannix asked him after the fight how he felt at this weight, he said, “I feel great, I feel great, I feel great, I love this division. As a matter of fact, I want to stay in this division a long time, let’s see.”
When asked about unified WBC and WBA flyweight champion Ricardo Sandoval (27-2, 18 KOs), he was quick to answer, “I really want it…it really interests me. I hope Oscar De La Hoya and Eddie Gomez can see that through. I’m ready for it, I’m ready for the big fights. I’m ready to make history. I was born for this, I’m the pound-for-pound champion, and I’m ready for the big fights, and that’s the fight that I want.”
His promoter Oscar De La Hoya made it known that is the fight he wants to make as well. Telling Chris Mannix, he wants to bring back that Mexico versus Puerto Rico rivalry. Sandoval is a fighter De La Hoya promotes as well, so this would be an in-house promotional fight that, as long as terms can be agreed upon by both parties, would be a relatively easy fight to make.
De La Hoya stated the fight would be a mega fight and could potentially be held in either Puerto Rico or Los Angeles, depending on what is agreed upon by the fighters. Collazo would be skipping the light flyweight division (108 lbs.) entirely by challenging Sandoval for his 112-pound titles. El Pupilo felt strong against Valdez and feels he is ready for the move to flyweight.
When asked what potential challenges Ricard poses, he said, “He’s a very good fighter, he’s a pressure fighter. He likes to work – body and head. He goes to the front. He’s a Mexican fighter but he’s a very talented fighter and has a good team behind. I believe it’ll be a perfect…a very, very good fight.”
Galal Yafai was set to face Sandoval on June 6 but was forced to withdraw due to an undisclosed injury. Ricardo’s last match was July 30 in Japan against Kenshiro Teraji, a tough match he won by edging out the split decision. With him not having fought for almost a year he is primed and ready for a big fight, setting the stage for what could be a mega fight for both.
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