WBO minimumweight champion Oscar Collazo (9-0, 7 KOs) looked outstanding, destroying challenger Reyneris Gutierrez (10-2, 2 KOs) by a third-round knockout on Saturday night in their co-feature bout at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona.
The fight was competitive through the first two rounds, but in the third, Collazo nailed Gutierrez with a right to the head that stunned him, causing him to fall against the ropes. It could have been scored a knockdown, but the referee gave Gutierrez a break.
Moments later, Collazo dropped the badly hurt Gutierrez with a right to the head. When Gutierrez got back to his feet, he looked unsteady and it was obvious that he wasn’t going to make it out of the round.
When the action resumed, Collazo tore into the defenseless Gutierrez, nailing him with a flurry of shots and driving him into the ropes. The referee then stepped in and halted the contest. The time of the stoppage was at 2:37 of round three.
Collazo articulated his strategic approach in the ring emphasizing his calculated execution of punches that led to his victory. “I chose my moments and was confident the opportunity to land would present itself. With precision in each step and punch, I sensed that the pivotal moment was imminent within that round,” he expressed. Collazo, known for his decisive finishing ability, highlighted his readiness to seize the moment when an opponent shows vulnerability. “Observing an opponent falter significantly signals my instinct to conclude the fight decisively,” he added.
Reflecting on his training regimen, Collazo described his preparation as thorough and effective, spanning a dedicated 12 weeks. He stressed the importance of relentless hard work for a champion, acknowledging the competitive nature of the sport where many aspire to claim his position. “The drive to maintain my title is fueled by the continuous challenge from contenders,” he stated. Looking forward, Collazo expressed his ambitious goal for the coming months. “My aim is to face all the champions by May or April; my vision for this year is to unify the titles,” he declared, showcasing his determination to excel in his career.
