WBA World welterweight champ Keith Thurman defends his title against Luis Collazo over a scheduled 12 rounds at the USF Sundome in Tampa, Florida, on Saturday, July 11.
Undefeated, the 26-year-old champ (25-0, 21 KOs) is an eight-year pro (though he didn’t fight at all in 2011 due to an injury and fight cancellations) who fights out of Clearwater, Florida. He most recently defended his title in March, decisioning Robert Guerrero. “One Time” became the interim WBA welterweight titlist in July 2013 by knocking out Diego Gabriel Chaves in the 10th. The WBA elevated him to full championship status this January (though Floyd Mayweather Jr. remains the sanctioning body’s Super World champ). The one “blemish” on Thurman’s record is his April 2009 bout with Francisco Garcia, which resulted in a no contest due to an accidental headbutt. No rematch took place, Garcia retiring from the ring following his loss by first-round TKO to Tony Hirsch in July 2009.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, 34-year-old Collazo (36-6, 19 KOs) now fights out of the neighboring borough of Queens. The southpaw is a 15-year pro (though he didn’t fight in 2010) who’s only been stopped once, by Edwin Cassiani via third-round TKO in April 2002. Collazo most recently fought in April, stopping Christopher Degollado by second-round TKO. He’s only lost one of his last six, decisioned by Amir Khan in May 2014.
The tough New Yorker is himself a former WBA titlist. In April 2005, he decisioned Jose Antonio Rivera, thus winning the WBA World welterweight title, which he lost by unanimous decision to Ricky Hatton in May 2006. In September 2013, Collazo decisioned Alan Sanchez to win the vacant WBA International welterweight title, losing it to Khan last year.
ESPN will televise the bout live at 9 p.m. (ET).
This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.
