www.fightnews.com

May 8, 2006

Story/Photo by Jason "J-Gon" Gonzalez


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After back and forth negations, conflicts of interest between the proper sanctioning bodies and confusion over who would play host…A deal was finalized.

Much has been made of when the now former WBA/IBF junior welterweight champion Ricky Hatton would make his American debut, since hooking up with American promoter Artie Pelullo. After scouting the globe from top to bottom and weighing their options a very credible "dance partner" was found. Brooklyn's own Luis Collazo plans to join the festivities as well doing his own celebrating as he attempts to spoil Hatton's invasion on American soil come May 13th as the combatants engage in battle in "Bean-Town".

Collazo, who held the WBA "regular" title, became the recognized WBA champion when the former undisputed welterweight champion Zab Judah as forced to vacate his WBA strap, when he lost to the less heralded Carlos Baldomir of Argentina. As Collazo put it, "I am at the top of the food chain." And on top of the food chain is right…well at least in Massachusetts he is. Collazo won his prestigious trinket a little over a year ago in hellacious barnburner against the former champion Jose Antonio Rivera in Worcester. About his recent success in the state of Massachusetts, he was asked if he felt that Massachusetts was his home away from home. "Well, I believe the fight was originally supposed to be in Connecticut. Then it was moved to Boston. He isn't from the States. Against him [Hatton], I will be at home whenever I fight", explained the welterweight champ. And although the WBA is the only title on the line here, the sanctioning body has been giving the matchmakers along with the promoters grief. Rumor has it that the WBA has not sanctioned this bout. In light of the situation regarding the World Boxing Association, Collazo said, "I do not know what the current status of the situation is. I am just getting ready to do what I got to do. So if the WBA does or doesn't sanction it, either way I am content." Confidently adding, "I am beating this dude, then I am taking his contract."

Luis just recently turned 25 on April 22nd. Collazo's birthday celebration may seem a little unconventional, but going into the most important fight of his life, you will see that Collazo is as unorthodox as they come. He celebrated his birthday by doing roadwork, pad work and sparring. Apparently the hard work he has been putting in has paid off. For the past three weeks Collazo is just three pounds over the welterweight limit (150). Part of it had to do with him preparing for his mandatory opponent Oktay Urkal that was obviously postponed. According to Collazo's trainer Nirmal Lorick the WBA has given them an exempt on making the mandatory. Louie sees the off and on training process as a plus, "It didn't set my training back at all. I kept training I am consistent. I stayed in the gym so I didn't have to kill myself." "Everything stayed the same. I just keep working on my game."

Collazo, who normally trains down in the "Dirty South" (Atlanta, Ga.) switched his location of training to Fernwood in the Pocono Mountains. About the Poconos Collazo commented, "I will still continue to train down in Atlanta, however I came up here for the Urkal fight." His reason being that it was close to home and that it was easier for his sparring partners to make the commute. In what Collazo describes as the "Biggest fight of his life", Luis hopes that the Poconos works the same wonders for him as it did for Wladimir Klitschko and former world champions John Ruiz and Lennox Lewis. This time around Collazo has put a major emphasis on sparring. From the start of camp to now, Collazo has sparred over 400 rounds with middleweight Randy Griffin, welterweight Emmanuel Clottey and super middleweight Jaidon Codrington. "I Love Pressure", explained the Brooklyn native. But whether or not Hatton will have the same strength and offensive punch output at 147 still remains to be seen. Luis openly admits, " I can't say. We have never worked together nor have we sparred. 140 is 140, 147 is where the big boys are. He isn't going to bully me the same way he did to all of those other dudes at junior welterweight."

But if one thing is for sure, you know that Hatton is going to bring it. That's fine with Collazo. After taking one glance at the champion's back you will realize that he has an extremely high threshold for pain. The heavily tattooed Collazo is up to number seventeen and counting. Up to now Hatton hasn't made anyone question his discipline nor his intensity. However, things do happen in the sport of boxing. When asked if he felt that Hatton was taking him seriously, the heavily tattooed Collazo answered, " I brought it up at the press conference. Do you know that he forgot his speech. It doesn't matter to me though, my main focus is on him. I am bringing my "A" game. Adding, "Ricky Hatton's main focus is on Floyd Mayweather. He is overlooking me. Come the 13th I am be 110%."

Respect hasn't come easy for Collazo. When it comes to the "Sweet Science", Louie will be the first to tell you that no one has given him anything. In attempt to get that big name fight, Collazo saw himself in Don King's office signing six contracts. (Carlos Baldomir, Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, Arturo Gatti, Antonio Margarito and Floyd Mayweather.) The fact that he had to earn everything he got in boxing attributed to Louie's mental toughness. In fact you have to be tough period, call out the names Collazo did. The Williamsburg product will confidently tell you that fighting Hatton does not faze him. Collazo attributes his tough psychological grit to the first and only loss he sustained four years ago. " The loss I got a few years ago made me the way I am. I have been the underdog my whole life".

Underdog? Interesting choice of words used by the champion. Considering that he is bigger than Hatton, he doesn't cut as easy as Hatton, and is a southpaw, why does he feel he is the underdog heading into the 13th? " No one has seen me. I haven't gotten the sufficient television exposure. But come May 13th, I am shock the world", Collazo emphatically claimed.

Granted, he hasn't gotten the television exposure of say an Arturo Gatti, however he has fought on Pay-Per-View before. (Against Miguel Angel Gonzalez). When asked to compare and contrast between the two, [HBO & PPV], the very smooth Nuyorican cordially answered, "HBO is better than Pay-Per-View. Although everyone might have cable, not everybody buys pay-per-view. However everyone does have HBO. I am going to be fighting Ricky Hatton and I thank him for the opportunity. I am going to show the world what I am about."

A lot of the "so called" experts feel that the only flaw Hatton has is that he cuts very easily. In other words the only way that Collazo can win is if he stops him [Hatton] on cuts. Collazo disagrees with that assessment. "He can be beaten with any straight punch". But humbly admitting, "You have to be smart with Ricky." As far as Ricky's thin skin is concerned and the possibility of stopping him on cuts, " It doesn't matter I am going to box him. He takes me as a joke. This is the biggest fight of my career, so it's a must that I come correct", Collazo told fightnews.

Tickets for the Luis Collazo-Ricky Hatton bout are on sale and are available at The TD Banknorth Garden Box Office and all other ticketmaster locations. Tickets for this event begin at $50, $100, $150, $250, $400, and $500. For more information call (617) 931-2000 or go online to www.ticketmaster.com.