Entering only his second fight at flyweight, Collazo is coming off a two-round stoppage of late replacement Neider Valdez. The 5-foot-2 unified minimumweight champion will give away four inches in height to the 5-foot-6 Sandoval while moving directly from a trial fight in the division to arguably its best fighter.
Sandoval earned the WBA and WBC titles by traveling to Japan and defeating Kenshiro Teraji by split decision in July 2025. He survived a fifth-round knockdown and recovered well enough to outwork Teraji across the later rounds.
That victory showed the difficulty of the task facing Collazo. The champion is larger, experienced against top opposition and capable of maintaining his output over 12 rounds. Collazo dominated at minimumweight, but beating fighters closer to his own size does not guarantee that his pressure and punching power will carry into a fight against a full-sized flyweight.
The seven-pound move from 105 to 112 represents nearly seven percent of Collazo’s former weight limit. He bypassed the 108-pound division entirely, although the Valdez bout gave him one short appearance at flyweight before challenging Sandoval. Two rounds against a late replacement could not show how his power, stamina and punch resistance will hold up against a natural 112-pound champion.
Their methods create a clear contest between precision and activity. Collazo uses timing, lateral movement and accurate body combinations, while Sandoval applied enough pressure and maintained sufficient output to defeat Teraji. The challenger must land with enough force to reduce that activity. Without earning Sandoval’s respect, the smaller man may struggle to control the pace over 12 rounds.
“Sandoval is a challenge that motivates me and my team. I was looking to make history and prove that there are no limits when you know what you’re capable of doing,” Collazo said. “This isn’t just for me. This is for Puerto Rico and to raise the level of Puerto Rican boxing.”
The southpaw stance gives Collazo a route inside. His rear left hand can reach Sandoval’s body from an angle, but he must cross the taller champion’s punching range to deliver it. Sandoval’s straight right hand and uppercut will be available whenever Collazo lowers himself or steps forward. Much may depend on how often the challenger reaches the body without taking a clean counter on his way inside.
Sandoval’s recovery against Teraji creates another question. He got up from a fifth-round knockdown and fought effectively enough over the remaining rounds to win the titles. Collazo carried useful power at 105 pounds, but hurting an established flyweight is a different physical test. Failure to slow the champion early may force him to match Sandoval’s activity deep into the contest.
His brief appearance against Valdez offered little evidence because it lasted less than two rounds. Collazo overwhelmed an opponent brought in on short notice, but Sandoval represents an entirely different level of resistance.
Rather than spending several fights adjusting to the division, Collazo is going directly after two flyweight championships while retaining his WBA and WBO minimumweight belts. Winning would give him recognized titles in two divisions simultaneously. This is far more than a ceremonial opportunity for a successful champion moving up in weight.
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