12 days untill hatton, callazo this is a callazo interview sounding confident

[addy83]

By Ant Evans: The stage has been set for a glorious USA world championship debut for Ricky Hatton in Boston on May. But WBA welterweight champion Luis Collazo believes, scheduled merely for a co-star role, says he will steal the show on the HBO/Sky Box Office extravaganza.

"In Brooklyn, they call me the Showstopper, because I steal other people's shows and that's what will happen May 13," the New Yorker said on an international conference call Monday. "Everyone knows what Hatton's bout - I am expecting pressure. But this is my time to shine. I got this!"

Sounding confident and combative, Collazo brushed aside questions on whether Hatton was looking beyond him to a possible fight with a Floyd Mayweather or Arturo Gatti, saying: "I know a lot of opponents have overlooked me in the past but I don't know if Ricky is overlooking me.

"I can't say Ricky is overlooking me, because he should have done his homework. But if he's overlooking me, that's his fault. He'll be one of the many to be shocked May 13."

Collazo conceded that he isn't the most famous fighter in and around the 147lbs division, but said he really should be getting more credit for beating the likes of Jose Antonio Rivera (to win the title last April) from hardcore boxing people.

He said: "I'm disappointed the media hasn't taken Louie more seriously. But this will establish me in America, not Ricky. The Rivera fight (which wasn't show on US TV) was one of the fights of the year and should be recognised as such."

In contrast, Hatton is a world-wide commodity thanks to his June 2005 TKO of Kostya Tszyu.

Collazo said: "Everyone is talking about the win over Kostya Tszyu, but I am not Kostya Tszyu. I'm a completely different sort of fighter. And I'm bigger and stronger than Ricky. I'm a real welterweight, he's a junior welterweight and that will be a factor. After the weigh-in, he'll be gaining nothing but fat whereas I'll be gaining natural (healthy) weight.

"I don't know who Ricky has got for sparring, but there's only one of me. I can box, stick and I can fight. I'm slick, fast handed, in great condition and I'm pretty. I'm the first Puerto Rican Hatton has fought and I'm coming out with the victory."

[addy83]

Is callazo over confident?

[AdamGB]

Just read an article in boxing monthly and its funny but I got the feeling he knew he was basicly a high level Journey man for Hatton. Maybe thats putting it a bit strongly but I got the feeling he knows he's not ment to win.

[Gandalf]

tricky for a while but hatton will beat him....convincingly...

[Wadeb_21]

I think Hattons gonna take this one by late stoppage or UD. But I really think Callazo will show up in the early rounds for a fight then figure out hattons just to much for him.

[Gandalf]

I think Hattons gonna take this one by late stoppage or UD. But I really think Callazo will show up in the early rounds for a fight then figure out hattons just to much for him.

good call

[yoitsdan]

Ricky has been sparring a tricky southpaw called frankie and is known as el' gato (the cat) who is 13-2, he's a very good fighter, a naturally big welterwight and a hell of a nice guy aswell, he has sparred with gatti and collazo in the past and is currently a latin american champion.

[J_Undisputed]

Did he refer to himself in the 3rd person? "Louie?" Anyway, i think a lot of guys want to be the defiant stepping stone. Hes over looking me .. and i'm gonna shock the world.. etc etc.

Not taking anything away from the guy. Hes put in his work at the gym and fought a title fight and etc. and there have been lots of guys before that succeeded in upsetting someone they werent supposed to beat. That being said most, are defiant... most are rebellious till they get hit and hit again .. and again .. and again. Then all of sudden, second place dont seem so bad.

I think this guy has a guts and a high opinion of himself. I am sure the guys undisputed champ in his own world. You'd have to have that attitude to win something. However, i just dont think hes been crowded and hit yet from a fighter of hattons level or workrate. As many people said. He might be able to get some early work done... but later on I dont think hatton will change to some sort of magic gameplan as much as the early abuse will catch up with Collazo.