An aging Williamsburg welterweight’s dream of getting another title shot — and regaining his belt — could come true with one more knockout, the Brooklyn brawler boasted this week.
Luis Collazo says a win in his Jan. 30 fight with Victor Ortiz at the Barclays Center will put him in the place he needs to be if he ever wants to win another belt.
“An opportunity like this I couldn’t turn down,” the 32-year-old pugilist said. “I’m an opportunist and it’s a great one.”
But maybe not as much as his opponent, a 26-year-old with a 29–4–2 record, including 22 knockouts, who is coming off 19 months away from the ring when he appeared as a contestant on the television show “Dancing with the Stars” and filmed the movie “Expendables 3.”
Collazo says that time away will work to the older fighter’s advantage.
“He hasn’t fought in quite some time and he hasn’t fought someone like me in very longtime.” Collazo said.
Collazo won the World Boxing Association welterweight belt back in 2005 before losing it to Ricky Hatton. Collazo (35–5, 17 knockouts) stepped away from fighting for nearly two years. He is 4–1 since his return, including a unanimous decision over Alan Sanchez on Sept. 2 in Texas.
The undercard features Bronx native Eddie Gomez taking on Daquan Arnett in a battle of unbeaten junior middleweights. Gomez beat Arnett at the amateur level, and this fight is their professional rematch.
“We were some young boys now we are grown men, undefeated records” Gomez said. “Somebody’s got to go.”
Meanwhile, Collazo says he can’t wait to get into the ring in front of his hometown fans a few days before the Super Bowl at MetLife Stadium.
“It’s in Brooklyn, so it’s going to be a big stage anyway even if it wasn’t for the Super Bowl,” Collazo said.
