Oscar Collazo calls out Sandoval for flyweight unification

Oscar Collazo wants Ricardo Sandoval at flyweight after his second-round demolition of Neider Valdez on June 21 in Oceanside, California.

The Puerto Rican southpaw, who holds The Ring, WBA and WBO minimumweight straps, dropped Valdez three times before the stoppage and immediately targeted a two-division leap to 112 pounds. Sandoval owns the WBA and WBC belts in that weight class and has not fought since upsetting Kenshiro Teraji by split decision last July in Yokohama.

Golden Boy sees Mexico-Puerto Rico revival in Collazo-Sandoval clash

"I really want it," Collazo told DAZN's Chris Mannix ringside, per The Ring. "I'm ready for the big fights. I'm ready to make history. You know, I was born for this. I'm a pound-for-pound champion and I'm ready for the big fights. And that's the fight that I want."

Golden Boy Promotions chief Oscar De La Hoya, who represents both fighters, called the matchup the best available option for either man. De La Hoya floated Puerto Rico or Los Angeles as potential venues and framed the bout as a modern take on the storied Mexico-Puerto Rico rivalry that defined fights like De La Hoya-Trinidad and Chavez-Camacho.

Collazo entered the Valdez bout ranked ninth on The Ring's pound-for-pound list and closed as an 80-1 favourite. The 29-year-old had mentioned unification bouts with IBF champ Pedro Taduran and WBC titlist Siyakholwa Kuse before the Oceanside card, but the Sandoval callout suggests he may bypass strawweight entirely. Sandoval, 27, of Rialto, California, carries a 27-2 record with 18 knockouts and has not competed in nearly a year since his Japan upset.

No date or location has been confirmed for the proposed matchup.

Source: ringmagazine.com