Former welterweight champion talks about his 18-month ring absence, fighting Bryant Perrella Aug. 4 on PBC on FOX and what future opponents he would like to face.
Vasquez vs Collazo highlights: February 2, 2017
Former 147-pound champion Luis Collazo turned 37 in April, had surgery to repair a torn left biceps tendon in August 2017, and ends an 18-month ring absence when he faces Bryant Perrella on Aug. 4.
But none of that matters today. Collazo (37-7-0, 20 KOs) says he is completely healed, has become a better fighter as he matures and his time away from the ring has been used perfectly. The 5-foot-9 Collazo expects two things when he meets the 6-foot-1 Perrella: a tough fight and a victory.
The fight will be on the undercard of the PBC on FOX event (7:30 pm ET/4:30 mp PT) held at Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Uniondale, New York, and represents the first appearance in the NYC area for Collazo—a Brooklyn, native—since January 2014. During that bout at Barclays Center, Collazo knocked out Victor Ortiz in the second round.
Should he get beyond Perrella (15-1, 13 KOs), Collazo wants to get back into the championship mix.
What’s your perspective on the shoulder, the ring absence given your age, and fighting in your home state?
Aug. 4 couldn’t come any sooner. My bicep’s healed up well, and I’m back in New York for the first time since the (Victor) Ortiz fight, which I’m truly excited about.
I’m mentally and physically prepared, and to be able to do it in New York makes it even better, so we’ll see if the 18 months is a factor or not.
Some people can say my age might play a part, but I’m passionate about boxing, which, for me, is a full-time job, so I’m always in the gym.
Do you feel like you’re a dangerous fighter?
Everybody says I’m high risk, low reward, but I don’t understand that. People say I’m dangerous probably because of my fights against Ortiz and Sammy Vasquez.
But when you’re an A-class fighter in boxing, you’re supposed to fight the best in your division or you should fight someone who is gonna give you a run for your money.
Do you feel that you’ve done that?
Yes, I’ve done that if you look at my career, with Ricky Hatton, Andre Berto, Shane Mosley, Amir Khan and Keith Thurman. I believe that I beat Ricky Hatton.
The Shane Mosley fight, I should have done better but I broke my thumb in the second round. Berto was the undefeated champion, and I feel like I truly handed him his first loss.
I wish I could have had a rematch with Berto before now. I’ve always been that type of guy, and that’s not gonna change until I hang up the gloves.
How do you feel about being on the same card as Berto and the possibility of a rematch with him or of fighting Devon Alexander?
I would absolutely fight either one of them. Andre Berto and Devon Alexander are fighters I would have liked to have already fought. I was offered Alexander before Vasquez, but Devon didn’t take the fight.
Before Perrella, their names were mentioned and those fights didn’t come to fruition, but they’re fights I hope to make happen before I hang up the gloves.
“ I’m just ready to get back in there. I’m like a wounded lion trying to survive, so I’m real hungry. I’m starving for another victory. ” Former Welterweight World Champ Luis Collazo
How would you like to be the first defense for the winner of the Danny Garcia-Shawn Porter fight?
I want Danny Garcia. Garcia is Puerto Rican and I’m Puerto Rican. Man it will be a hell of a fight to happen at Barclays Center in New York, being that I’m from Brooklyn and he’s from Philadelphia.
I always say styles make fights. That's one that will go down in the books as a battle of hooks and an all-out brawl. Another great fighter is Shawn Porter. I’ve called out Shawn Porter, who is a top guy.
That would be an awesome battle of staying to the game plan and a brutal fight from the beginning to the end because of our aggressive styles. Either fight is a fan favorite for sure, win or lose.
What about Spence, also a left-hander?
The last two times I fought southpaws, I was supposed to get stopped or to lose and I ended up knocking out Ortiz and Vasquez. So I’ve been performing better and getting stronger against lefties.
So if that fight with Spence presents itself, I would absolutely be ready to take it because I’m a fighter who loves competition.
How intriguing is Perrella, balancing his height against your seven knockouts in your past 10 with five coming against southpaws?
Every fight is tough, but I like fighting southpaws, and I’ve been exposing them. Perrella’s a tough kid who had 11 straight knockouts before he lost, so he’s not a walkover.
He’s tall and rangy, and hungry, and I believe that, yet again, I’m not the favorite. But I’ve been the underdog for my entire career.
How does Perrella stack up against the best fighters on your resume, and vice versa, keeping in mind that he’s been stopped by Ugas?
Ugas is a great counter-puncher with some pop, and his Cuban pedigree speaks for itself. I’m going to be the best Luis Collazo that night and probably the best fighter he’s going to face. I just hope that he’s ready.
How does this fight break down?
Like most of the battles throughout my career, whether it’s a straight-up fight or a chess match, it usually comes down to grit and determination.
I’m an experienced fighter who can punch a little bit, so I’m just ready to get back in there. I’m like a wounded lion trying to survive, so I’m real hungry. I’m starving for another victory.
For a closer look at Luis Collazo, check out his fighter page.
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