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In the co-main event at The Oceana Club in Brighton Beach Brooklyn, New York, on Wednesday, April 13, former World Boxing Association Welterweight champion Luis Collazo of Brooklyn, New York, scored an easy third round stoppage of outmatched Franklin Gonzalez of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. Collazo’s appearance was his first since June 2009.
Both fighters entered the ring appearing in great shape, and Gonzalez, billed as ‘The Dominican Sensation’, who gave a good accounting of himself losing a controversial eight round decision to welterweight contender Dmitry Salita at The Oceana Club in September 2010, returned to the same location to take his chances again. The gamble, as it turned out, did not pay off.
Collazo, who has gone the distance with Andre Berto, Shane Mosley, and Ricky Hatton, is a world class fighter who is just a cut above Gonzalez. It stood to reason if Gonzalez got knocked out by dangerous welterweight contender David Estrada in December 2010, his effort against Collazo would not last as long. True to form, it didn’t.
Southpaw versus southpaw, Collazo stalked Gonzalez around the ring from the opening bell, working to find a place for his left jab, and trying to find his rhythm. Gonzalez had a good defense and tried to counter punch, but was never able to find counter openings for his right hand against Collazo.
In the first round, Gonzalez landed a few rights. In rounds two and three, Gonzalez missed with a lot of jab punches and power punch bomb shots, expending energy. While the first round was close, Gonzalez quickly learned his slight height and reach disadvantages could not be overcome, and he could not get away.
Gonzalez backed up and moved right in round two. He tried a few ‘Hail Mary’ power punch bombs, but had no luck finding his target. Collazo landed a short left hand which dropped Gonzalez for a seven count at the end of round two.
Gonzalez’ punches were all air in round three, as Collazo found range for his straight left and dropped Gonzalez twice more, prompting the stoppage by referee Benji Estevez at 2:14 of the third round. Collazo improves to 31-4 (16). Gonzalez falls to 13-9 (9), a loser of five in a row.
Collazo dedicated his ring comeback to the cause of autism research. Ringside signs throughout the night touted the autism cause. Collazo returned to the ring before the main event in a gray suit, to pick the winning ticket of a raffle benefiting autism research. Money was also raised for the Jimmy O’Pharrow Foundation, honoring the memory of the late legendary boxing trainer Jimmy O’Pharrow, founder and executive director of the Starett City Gym in Brooklyn.
Result: Luis Collazo TKO 3 (time of 2:14) Franklin Gonzalez, Welterweights Referee: Benji Estevez. Gonzalez was down in the second and twice in the third.
