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Q and A: Louis Collazo
http://www.fightnews.com/j-gon64.htm
Former WBA welterweight champion Luis Collazo (26-2, 12 KO's) is fresh off of what many people consider to be a highly controversial unanimous decision loss to Ricky Hatton (41-0, 30 KO's). However, at times losing can be the same as winning, especially after putting on the great performance that Louie did against one of the best fighters pound for pound.
With renewed confidence and his cut all healed up, Luis will be working on his tan as he calls Puerto Rico home for the next two weeks. "Little kids here have been coming up to me telling me that I was robbed," said Collazo about his recent scrap with the new WBA Welterweight champion. Since winning the respect and the adulation of the fans in Puerto Rico, I guess you can call Luis the "People's Champ."
In this one-on-one exclusive interview Fightnews.com caught up with former world champ while he vacations "En la Isla del Encanto." Hear everything that the proud nuyorican had to say including why a belt doesn't define who Luis Collazo is.
Luis were you surprised that he didn't sustain a cut during a fight?
Not Really. Ricky was coming in with his head down and holding so much that I really couldn't catch him with anything sharp and clean. Everyone told me that I was going to open him up with the left hand and contrary to popular belief it was the right that was catching him. He was open for right hooks and it was evident after seeing his left eye.
How many times have you seen the fight? Do you still feel that you won?
I have seen the fight about fifteen times and every time I saw it, the most I give Ricky was four rounds. I had it eight rounds to four. Obviously the knockdown in the first round was critical. It definitely came back to haunt me. But at the end of the day HBO put the money on him and that's were it went.
What mistake did you think you made during the fight?
I probably could have made things easier by boxing more. But if I had done that everyone would have said that I ran from Ricky Hatton. Just like what they said about Oscar De La Hoya when he fought Felix Trinidad. And if I had done that there is no way I would have won the fight. I was going into the fight losing anyhow. I had a point to prove. I wanted to stay on my ground and show Ricky that I was the bigger man and that I wasn't going to be pushed around. I wanted to show the world that Hatton was overrated and I believe I did.
What about Ricky Hatton surprised you the most?
The only thing that I can say really surprised me was his lack of punching power. Everyone made him out to be a heavy hitter but he really wasn't. I was under the impression that because he stopped Kostya Tszyu he hit hard, but no the case. It just goes to show you the difference seven pounds make. He has to go back down to 140 but before he does hopefully he gives me another opportunity.
So what you are really saying is that you were never hurt in the fight. Is that correct?
Yes that is correct. If he really had devastating punching power I would have been real hurt when he dropped me. Plus I would not have gotten up that fast. I went down more from being off balanced than anything else. But at no pint during the fight was I ever hurt.
How do you think Ricky Hatton will fare against the other top welterweights in the division?
Anybody at welter lays him out. You saw the fight, I am not even a puncher and I had him badly hurt. Anybody in the top ten beats him. I keep telling everyone that the weight is the difference. The punches here are coming at you seven pounds heavier. Big difference!
You had alluded to before that you were going into the fight losing before ever stepping into the ring. Rumors had it that you were disgusted with how Banner Promotions treated you and team. Did that have anything to do with that? If so tell us about it.
It was horrible. They had no respect for the champion. I felt like I took a huge step down to the minors. I really felt like I was playing in the junior leagues. They (Banner) had no respect for the champion. My dressing room was horrible. It seemed that the maximum capacity in my dressing room was ten. I did not have a flight to go out to Boston. My team and I drove there. Prior to my fight the referee had only called one championship bout before. (Jose Antonio Rivera- Alejandro Garcia the week before) The ref and two judges were from Massachusetts, but c'mon lets be fair here. But this is boxing and it is what it is. There are no excuses here. I just want another opportunity to redeem myself. And this time around I am not leaving it in the judge's hands.
You had him out on his feet in the twelfth and final round. Why didn't you knock him out, was fatigue a factor?
No not at all. Once I saw that I had him hurt I came in close to cut the distance between him and me. Whenever I have a guy hurt I always follow by going downstairs and ripping the body. As I got in close Ricky smothered me and held. He smothered me to take my power away and he held to survive. And he survive he truly did.
Now that Hatton is the champ do you feel the possibilities of a rematch are likely? Tell us what Hatton's options are?
I believe he has 120 days to decide what he wants to do. He can stay at welterweight or go back down to 140. If does decide to go back down the title will be vacated, if he stays he will have to fight Oktay Urkal. Look no disrespect to Ricky Hatton he is a terrific fighter. But if decides to stay at welterweight he should fight me again before he fights anybody else. If he does then he is a true champion. If he doesn't then that's his choice. It is his career and he will do what he deems fit. The only thing is thought there will always be a question mark as well as a black cloud surrounding his victory over me.
Rumors have it that if Hatton does decide to vacate the title, Urkal will face the winner of the Joel Julio-Carlos Quintana contest for the strap. What are your thoughts about that?
It's not fair. At the end of the day Urkal should have been gone by now. He should not be the number one contender. We were supposed to fight about three or four times, and he would pull out every time. As far as Quintana and Julio number two and three, I guess the powers that be go wherever the money is. But I can't find myself worrying about what others do. As long as I get my title shot sooner than later we are good.
Say for argument's sake the rematch is going to happen, are you willing to go to England?
I am willing to go anywhere. But if I got to go to England to knock him out I will.
What did you learn from your fight with Hatton? What would you do differently the next time around?
I learned to not leave anything to the ref. I am a clean fighter because I was brought up that way, but you got to do what you got to do. If someone fights me dirty then by all means I will fight dirty too, plain and simple. If its good for one then why not both. God willing a second opportunity presents itself, I will not leave anything to chance.
Luis you put on a great performance against one of the better fighters pound for pound. And although you may have lost, technically you didn't. Now that your stock has gone up a great deal, where do you go from here? Tell us what the future has in store for Luis Collazo.
The welterweight division is wide open. We saw Zab expose Floyd for a little bit. My future is real big. I can box or slug it out for fifteen rounds if I have too. All of the top welters now know that I am forced to be reckoned with. I don't say I am the best nor do I want to be the best at my trade. I only want to fight the best. I am willing to fight anybody in the top five. I want to prove to the skeptics that I am the truth. But before we go into uncharted waters, I have unfinished business with Hatton. I want Hatton!
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Originally Posted by The Game
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