Is A Flyweight Unification Next For Oscar Collazo or Is It More 105 lb Unification Fights?

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Who is next for Oscar Collazo?

Collazo stopped late-sub Neider Valdez in two rounds during their flyweight bout at the Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California.

Collazo, 15-0 (12 KOs), was originally set to face Joey Canoy, but Canoy was replaced the week of the fight after he failed to obtain a visa. Valdez was, unsurprisingly, unable to make the strawweight limit on short notice, so the bout was changed to a flyweight contest. Collazo, obviously, is one of the best lower-weight fighters, and passes the eye test as the best 105lbs fighter of the era. With wins over Thammanoon Niyomtrong and Melvin Jerusalem, Collazo has proven to be a worthy television main-event fighter, but fight fans’ lack of familiarity with his opposition limits his ability to garner headlines.

So what is next for the 29-year-old Puerto Rican boxer moving forward?

Anthony Olascuaga

Record: 12-1 (9 KOs)

Why: The WBO flyweight titleholder

Olascuaga trains out of Los Angeles, and Golden Boy Promotions is an L.A.-based company. A fight with Olascuaga is a huge risk for Collazo, but it would be a fun fight to hold at a venue in the area.

Rene Santiago

Record: 16-4 (9 KOs)

Why: A great Puerto Rico fight

Santiago holds the WBO junior flyweight belt and is a Puerto Rican titleholder. If the two were willing to fight, it would be a great bout for the island and give Collazo a chance to become a two-division champion.

Siyakholwa Kuse

Record: 10-3-1 (4 KOs)

Why: The other titleholder in his weight class (WBC)

Kuse just defeated Melvin Jerusalem to win the WBC belt. If Collazo is unable to land a fight with Taduran, then this is the next best option.

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Pedro Taduran

Record: 20-4-1 (14 KOs)

Why: The perceived best belt holder in his weight class

The IBF titleholder is seen as the best fighter not named Collazo. If he doesn’t move up, this is the fight to be made, as it would cement Collazo’s claim to being the best.

Ricardo Sandoval

Record: 27-2 (18 KOs)

Why: A unified belt holder at flyweight who shares the same promoter

Sandoval, a two-belt flyweight titleholder, was mentioned as a potential opponent for Collazo. They are both with Golden Boy Promotions, and the bout would signal an interesting move up in weight for Collazo, as flyweight has many more viable (and interesting) opponents. As fans, we should never force a fighter up in weight, but if Collazo decided to move up, it might be better for the sport, as we could get some of the “Fight of the Year” type bouts, given his style.