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Keys to Victory: Where can Collazo land damage against late replacement Valdez?
At boxing’s lightest weight, Oscar Collazo packs a punch worthy of pound-for-pound list recognition.
The reigning unified WBA/WBO strawweight world champion won’t be defending his titles tonight, but will be looking for another stellar performance, nonetheless, when clashing with Neider Valdez in a flyweight matchup. The bout takes place at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California, and live on DAZN.
Collazo (14-0, 11 KOs) has defended his WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine strawweight titles three straight times including his stopping of Jesus Haro back in March. The Puerto Rican boxer was supposed to meet Joey Canoy tonight, but the Filipino fighter had visa-related issues this week and Mexican fighter Valdez stepped in to save the bout. Valdez (15-3-2, 12 KOs) has been busy this year, first knocking out Jose Leonard Gomez in March before battling Gerardo Rodriguez Alvarado to a draw in May. Collazo easily marks his biggest step up in competition.
Will Collazo make quick work of Valdez? Or will the gritty contender renew the Puerto Rico-Mexico rivalry by giving Collazo a stern test? DAZN News analyzes the Keys to Victory for both fighters.
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Oscar Collazo’s Keys to Victory
Change levels to cut off ring
At 5-foot-2, Oscar Collazo is able to generate massive pressure accelerated by his ability to cut off the ring through changing levels.
It’s natural for Collazo for dip down and fire to the body, only to rise up and bring some punches upstairs. As he’s changing levels, he’s closing the gap between opponents and himself, and forcing pocket action where he can fight forward that much more.
Against a Neider Valdez, who finds himself on the back foot often, Collazo must use a steady flow of level changes.
Make steady deposits to the body
Collazo bangs away at the body by changing levels with the stab jab, but also loads up with stiff hook combinations to the midsection.
Both delivery methods should allow Collazo to systematically break Valdez down.
Explode up from the body to head
One of Collazo’s strengths that make him a pound-for-pound talent is his ability to alternate from the body to head with explosive output.
It’s within the Puerto Rican fighter’s wheelhouse to be depositing to the body, only to suddenly rise up and blast opponents with a raucous right or left hook. Doing this successfully against Valdez can certainly be on tonight’s menu as the Mexican fighter does not always keep a disciplined guard. That means a well-timed body shot-hook upstairs combo could be Collazo’s go-to weapon to end Valdez’ night early.
Neider Valdez’ Keys to Victory
Assert jab early
Suddenly thrust into this fight, Neider Valdez’ best bet for breaking some of Oscar Collazo’s pressure is establishing an early jab.
Doing this could help to keep Collazo at bay in spurts, allowing Valdez to maintain a healthy distance and possibly even dissolve the breakneck pace that ‘El Pupilo’ prefers.
Look for left hook-right uppercut combination
Valdez does a nice job of flinging a left hook around opponents’ guards. He ought to try to see if he can land this whiplashing punch early, piecing together a right uppercut on the back end of the combo to catch Collazo by surprise.
Don’t get comfortable on the back foot
Watching Valdez in action, he has a penchant of getting too comfortable on the back foot — something that would put heart emojis in Collazo’s eyes.
Sitting on the back foot would allow Collazo to use his pressuring style to smother and trap Valdez into a painful beating.
To avoid this, Valdez should only box on the back foot in sequences, collecting his points and moving out of harm’s way. He doesn’t and he’ll find himself in real trouble ... and quickly.
Who has the edge in Collazo vs. Valdez?
Analysis: DAZN News’ Mark Lelinwalla
Proper salute to Valdez for stepping up to the challenge of taking on Collazo on short notice. However, Collazo just has too many boxing tools in his sweet science bag. I fully expect Collazo to work body-head combinations to another eye-opening stoppage victory. He can then plot out his next move with pound-for-pound consideration.
Zayas vs. Ennis - watch only on DAZN
Xander Zayas defends his WBO and WBA super welterweight titles against Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis on Saturday, June 27, exclusively live on DAZN. Buy as a one-off PPV or included, along with Joshua vs. Prenga (July 25) and Canelo vs. M'billi (Sept 12) PPVs, with a DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription.
