Oscar Collazo eyes Ricardo Sandoval after flyweight debut

The bout was originally scheduled to be a title bout for Collazo’s WBO and WBA bantamweight titles, but was changed to a flyweight bout when Valdez was unable to make the 105-pound limit. Collazo moved up two weight classes, jumping to flyweight, and although he weighed in at just 110.6 pounds at Friday’s weigh-in, his strength continued.

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. In fact, I want to stay in this division for 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 reply, “I really want it … it really interests me. I hope Oscar De La Hoya and Eddie Gomez can see it through. I’m ready for it, I’m ready for the big fights. I’m ready to make this champion, – for a champion. And I’m ready for the big fights, and this is the fight that I want.”

His promoter Oscar De La Hoya has let it be known that this is the fight he also wants to fight. Telling Chris Mannix, he wants to bring back that rivalry between Mexico and Puerto Rico. Sandoval is a fighter that De La Hoya also promotes, so this would be an in-house promotion fight that, as long as the terms could be agreed upon by both parties, would be a relatively easy fight to pull off.

De La Hoya said the fight will be a mega fight and could possibly be held in Puerto Rico or Los Angeles depending on what is agreed upon by the fighters. Collazo would completely skip the light flyweight division (108 lbs.) 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 him. I believe it will be a perfect … a very, very good fight.”

Galal Yafai was scheduled to face Sandoval on June 6, but was forced to withdraw due to an undisclosed injury. Ricardo’s last match was on July 30th in Japan against Kenshiro Teraji, a tough match which he won by split decision. Having not fought in almost a year, he is primed and ready for a big fight, setting the stage for what could be a mega fight for both.