BoxRec

It looks like Terence Crawford will face a southpaw represented by Al Haymon in his next fight.

No, not that one.

BS.com has learned that Crawford likely will make the second defense of his WBO welterweight title against Luis Collazo. Negotiations have progressed to the point that a deal could be finalized within the next week, once this holiday weekend concludes.

The date and site aren’t settled, but Crawford-Collazo could take place March 23 at Madison Square Garden in New York. ESPN will televise their 12-round, 147-pound title fight.

The 37-year-old Collazo (38-7, 20 KOs) is a surprising choice for Crawford’s next opponent.

Promoter Bob Arum confirmed following Egidijus Kavaliauskas’ victory last Friday night that he would explore matching the unbeaten Lithuanian contender against Crawford next. Crawford came to Oklahoma City to take an up-close look at Kavaliauskas (21-0, 17 KOs), who knocked out Nicaragua’s Roberto Arriaza (17-1, 14 KOs) in the third round of their scheduled 10-round WBO welterweight elimination match on the Maurice Hooker-Alex Saucedo undercard at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

During and after that card November 16, Crawford and Errol Spence Jr. engaged in largely light-hearted, respectful exchanges regarding their much-discussed showdown.

Crawford would be heavily favored to beat Kavaliauskas, too, but that fight seemingly made more business sense than Crawford-Collazo.

Arum’s company, Top Rank Inc., promotes Crawford, 31, and Kavaliauskas, 30, which would’ve made it easy to put together. Arum apparently settled on a secondary plan for Crawford’s first of three fights in 2019.

Collazo is a former WBA world welterweight champion, but he has suffered from inactivity during the twilight of his career and will be a big underdog against Crawford. The Brooklyn native has fought just twice since Thurman stopped him after the seventh round in July 2015.

In his last fight, Collazo beat Bryant Perrella (15-2, 13 KOs) by majority decision in a 10-rounder August 4 in Uniondale, New York. Before he topped Perrella on two of three scorecards (98-92, 96-94, 95-95), Collazo hadn’t fought in the 18 months since he knocked out Sammy Vasquez (21-2, 15 KOs) in the sixth round of their February 2017 bout in Tunica, Mississippi.

Collazo underwent surgery to repair a torn left biceps muscle and endured an extensive rehabilitation program between his victories over Vasquez and Perrella.

boring

jamamb wrote: ↑23 Nov 2018, 12:40boring

Now, I;m on board with Spence vs. Garcia.. I know some people are calling it a mismatch etc. too much of a weight difference.. But it's two big names in the Sport.. So i'm all for it..

BUT THIS???

After seeing that confrontatoin backstage, now they want to match Crawford with Collazo??

A guy Thurman beat 3-4 years ago.. A guy many have beaten..

I'd rather he fight Egidijus Kavaliauskas.

Can't wait.

Not really surprising. Collazo was calling out Crawford several months ago on social media and there was speculation even then that they would square off.

Collazo, really just a rugged journeyman, must have friends in important places to constantly secure high profile bouts.

ya craw already fought a guy who beat mediocre sammy vasquez, collazos even boring on that respect

Odd choice. They really need to find Crawford some more live opponents at 147. The fans will turn on him if this kinda matchmaking keeps up for him.

SenorPipino wrote: ↑23 Nov 2018, 13:44 Can't wait.

Not really surprising. Collazo was calling out Crawford several months ago on social media and there was speculation even then that they would square off.

Collazo, really just a rugged journeyman, must have friends in important places to constantly secure high profile bouts.

But he's at least 4 years past prime
Maybe 2014 Collazo would be interesting, and still not that great. And not close to 50/50 against Crawford. I don't even know if Collazo is even a gatekeeper of the B level these days. He certainly isn't a title contender.

ya lol collazo was an advanved prospect/early contender level gatekeeper like 3-4 years ago

in 2018 he was irrelevant as a contender

SenorPipino wrote: ↑23 Nov 2018, 13:44 Can't wait.

Not really surprising. Collazo was calling out Crawford several months ago on social media and there was speculation even then that they would square off.

Collazo, really just a rugged journeyman, must have friends in important places to constantly secure high profile bouts.

He was calling out Spence, not Crawford.

The thought of this fight has just gave me aids

This matchup is a disgrace.

Perseus wrote: ↑23 Nov 2018, 14:59 This matchup is a disgrace.

People said the same thing about this one back in 1990.

I'm a big Crawford fan, but this washed-up clown Collazo is completely undeserving and to allow him as a world title challenger would be an absolute fiasco!!

What a crappy fight. I'd rather see him fight hooker. And he will be soon. Bud is screwed for opposition.

chuck9788 wrote: ↑23 Nov 2018, 15:45

Perseus wrote: ↑23 Nov 2018, 14:59 This matchup is a disgrace.

People said the same thing about this one back in 1990.

It's not 1990 and Crawford isn't Diva Tyson.

Be sure to come back and remind us about 1990 when Crawford walks through Collazo in 2019.

Douglas was much more deserving anyway.

Really bad fight smh. Nothing enticing at all about the match up. And to wait until March for this!

lazboy wrote: ↑23 Nov 2018, 19:41 Really bad fight smh. Nothing enticing at all about the match up. And to wait until March for this!

True. He bloody fought in October.

He should have fought in Feb. Maybe fight 3 times easy. I think he’s still fighting 3 times tho.

Thing is.. Crawford is being paid good money right now. Got over $3m vs. Horn and similar amount against Benavidez.. very good money he’s getting.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑23 Nov 2018, 19:52

lazboy wrote: ↑23 Nov 2018, 19:41 Really bad fight smh. Nothing enticing at all about the match up. And to wait until March for this!

True. He bloody fought in October.

He should have fought in Feb. Maybe fight 3 times easy. I think he’s still fighting 3 times tho.

Thing is.. Crawford is being paid good money right now. Got over $3m vs. Horn and similar amount against Benavidez.. very good money he’s getting.

Obviously too much money.
I can't see a big box office take for this fight outside of Omaha/Nebraska. Who would want to see a tough old bloke on the receiving end of a one sided beat down?

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑23 Nov 2018, 19:52

lazboy wrote: ↑23 Nov 2018, 19:41 Really bad fight smh. Nothing enticing at all about the match up. And to wait until March for this!

True. He bloody fought in October.

He should have fought in Feb. Maybe fight 3 times easy. I think he’s still fighting 3 times tho.

Thing is.. Crawford is being paid good money right now. Got over $3m vs. Horn and similar amount against Benavidez.. very good money he’s getting.

Yea that’s great money . Didn’t realise it was that much. Setting himself up for the rest of his life, hard to bash him for it yet you want better opponents as a fan.

I fuckin love Crawford but please piss off man!

Disappointing if this is the best Crawford can come up with.

A real pick'em fight imo.

handsofstone wrote: ↑23 Nov 2018, 14:55 The thought of this fight has just gave me aids

You've beaten me to that one bro! This is fuckin dreadful man! Feel like slapping ma ain jaw!