Luis Collazo vs. Jose Benavidez - OFF

[Ruthless-RKO]

The welterweight fight between former titlist Luis Collazo and Jose Benavidez, slated to headline a Top Rank Boxing on ESPN card on Aug. 17, will take place at the Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, sources with knowledge of the plans told ESPN. It will be the first boxing event to take place at the soccer stadium that opened in 2018 and serves as the home field for the MLS’ Los Angeles FC. The set up for the fight will be an area in one corner of the 22,000-seat stadium.

Dan Rafael, ESPN Senior Writer

[ironbeard]

Can never overlook Collazo on any but the top level. Benavidez should be able to get this done but Collazo has spoiled expectations before.

It will be interesting to see what kind of mobility that Benavidez has. This smells of firefight.

[SenorPipino]

Banc of California Stadium (just south of downtown Los Angeles) sits on the site of the demolished L.A. Sports Arena, which hosted numerous high profile boxing matches in the 50 plus years of its existence.

For much of the 1960s, the Sports Arena hosted most of Los Angeles' major bouts, until the more luxurious Forum debuted late in the decade.

Hopefully Banc of California Stadium will imitate the Sports Arena's legacy and begin showcasing some of boxing's biggest stars, the way its downtown neighbor to the north, Staples Center, has for the past 20 years.

[Ruthless-RKO]

The soccer field will become a fistic battleground Saturday, August 17, as Jose Benavidez Jr. will battle former world champion Luis Collazo in a 10-round welterweight co-feature at Banc of California Stadium, the home of Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC.

In the other co-feature, WBO junior featherweight champion Emanuel “Vaquero” Navarrete will make the second defense of his title against the undefeated Francisco “Panchito” De Vaca.

Benavidez-Collazo and Navarrete-De Vaca will headline the inaugural fight card at the year-old stadium and will be televised live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. The undercard, including the returns of unbeaten super lightweight contender Arnold Barboza Jr., welterweight contender Chris van Heerden, undefeated middleweight sensation Janibek Alimkhanuly and featherweight Adam Lopez, will stream live on ESPN+ — starting at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Zanfer Promotions and Iron Boy Promotions, tickets priced at $100, $80, $70, $60, $45 and $25 (not including applicable fees) go on sale Tuesday, July 16 at 10 a.m. PT and can be purchased at Ticketmaster.com, charge by phone at 800-745-3000 and in person at the Banc of California Stadium box office.

“I am very focused, and I see this as a must-win fight,” Benavidez said. “Collazo has been in the game for a long time and is still a top fighter, but I am going to push him towards retirement. He looks good for his age, but trust me, youth will prevail when we fight.”

“I’m coming for everything they said I couldn’t have,” Collazo said. “Talk is cheap. I’m here to show that I’m still one of the top welterweights in the world.”

Benavidez (27-1, 18 KOs) is coming off his most notable performance to date, a spirited effort in a 12th-round TKO loss versus pound-for-pound great Terence Crawford in Crawford’s hometown of Omaha, Nebraska. Crawford-Benavidez was ESPN’s most-watched boxing event of 2018, and now, the Phoenix native has a chance to return to title contention with a victory over Collazo (39-7, 20 KOs). A native of Brooklyn, New York, Collazo held a piece of the welterweight title from 2005-2006 and has remained a top contender in the 13 years since he lost his belt via controversial decision to Ricky Hatton. Collazo has won three in a row since falling short in a title challenge to Keith Thurman, most recently edging Samuel Vargas by split decision on St. Patrick’s Day at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden.

[chuck9788]

I think some of you guys are crazy. This will be a Benavidez win by complete beatdown. Benavidez truly battled with Bud Crawford. Collazo on the other hand was destroyed in 7 rounds by Thurman. On paper this is not an even match up.

[ironbeard]

I think some of you guys are crazy. This will be a Benavidez win by complete beatdown. Benavidez truly battled with Bud Crawford. Collazo on the other hand was destroyed in 7 rounds by Thurman. On paper this is not an even match up.

The only thing that is crazy is your lack of respect for Collazo, who has been a tough out against quality competition for many years. Your comparison of the two by way of their Thurman (Collazo) and Crawford (Benavidez Jr) fights smacks of simplicity.

First of all, Collazo was not destroyed by Thurman. Once Upon A Time was considered by many the #1 welter at that time. It was a poor matchup for Collazo. He retired in his corner.

Second, while Benavidez Jr was somewhat competitive v Crawford, that was mostly due to Crawford taking no chances. Bud knew that Benavidez mobility was severely limited and therefore his opponent would be constantly looking for the game changer shot, which is completely contrary to Benavidez history. Crawford gave Benavidez no shot, dominating him and stopping him, like a great matador subduing the bull.

I am not criticizing your prediction of a beatdown to be administered by Benavidez. I am criticizing your avenue to that prediction.

Prior to Crawford, Benavidez opposition has been nearly unanimously woeful, and he has been an underachiever. The #1 W on his record is Herrera. If we were to start a poll about who people thought won that fight it is likely that Benavidez would lose it. He did nothing in that fight. Herrera schooled his ass. A UD for Benavidez that night was laughable.

There is nothing else of note on his record.

Collazo, on the other hand has consistently been in the ring with high level competition, granted, usually losing, but nearly always competitive. He is old. He is shopworn. But his recent victories rival any legit W on Benavidez record.

There are too many questions surrounding this fight to be as confident as you are in Benavidez. He has not fought since Crawford (10 months on fight night). Will his knee hold up? What style will he fight Collazo with? Has he chosen to be the long puncher he was forced to be v Crawford? Will he be the dancing low output arm puncher that he has been for most of his career? Or will he finally show up as the top level talent that he was projected to be at the beginning of his career, moving well, using his length, measuring and sitting on power shots?

Is Collazo truly done? People have felt that way back to before the Berto fight where he dropped André and gave him hell in a losing effort. Can Benavidez chin take a solid Collazo shot? How about his body work?

Benavidez Jr needs to make a statement in this fight in order to jump into the mix at welter. He will get little credit for the W no matter what, but a dominant beatdown, as you have predicted, would get him into the conversation with the winners of Pac v Thurman, and Spence v Porter, as well as Bud.

[chinarich]

Collazo seems to have been around forever. Still operating near the top level but I can’t see him winning this one...

[Ruthless-RKO]

Collazo seems to have been around forever. Still operating near the top level but I can’t see him winning this one...

He recently won some fights he was ‘supposed’ to lose.. good for him. Staying relevant.

[chinarich]

Collazo seems to have been around forever. Still operating near the top level but I can’t see him winning this one...

He recently won some fights he was ‘supposed’ to lose.. good for him. Staying relevant.

Yes I guess his last three fights were decent wins, perhaps exposing those with inflated records. He’s serving a good purpose but I think he loses this one unless Benavidez isn’t quite as good as he’s purported to be...

[Ruthless-RKO]

He recently won some fights he was ‘supposed’ to lose.. good for him. Staying relevant.

Yes I guess his last three fights were decent wins, perhaps exposing those with inflated records. He’s serving a good purpose but I think he loses this one unless Benavidez isn’t quite as good as he’s purported to be...

Yeh. I think he loses this.

[Ruthless-RKO]

A leg injury suffered by Jose Benavidez Jr. derailed plans for a welterweight crossroads showdown with former titlist Luis Collazo. The two were due to collide August 17 live on ESPN from Banc of California Stadium in Los Angeles, Calif.

Officials from Top Rank have informed BS.com that Benavidez Jr. injured his left leg, the same leg in which he was shot less than three years ago and which cost him more than a year of his prime.

News of the injury was first revealed by Los Angeles Times contributor Manouk Akopyan.

A new opponent will be sought for Collazo (39-7, 20KO), a 38-year old southpaw from New York who is riding a three-fight win streak. The remainder of the card remains intact, including the evening’s main event featuring Emanuel Navarrete in the second defense of his super bantamweight title versus unbeaten but untested Francisco de Vaca.

News of the bout falling through comes as a major letdown, as the evenly matched contest helped lend credence to a show lacking such credentials in the headliner.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Flipping shame this.

[ironbeard]

Dude has never been able to legitimately get out of the gate as a pro.