Rivera to Face Luis Collazo in Worcester on April 2nd
3/18 - Highly ranked contender Luis Collazo has agreed to step into a
world title fight against World Boxing Association welterweight champion Jose
Antonio Rivera on April 2 at the DCU Center. Rivera’s scheduled opponent was
forced to withdraw after developing an “infectious respiratory tract disease,
with symptoms of pneumonia” according to a written report by an attending
physician.
Rivera (37-3-1, 24 KOs) was to have met undefeated No. 1 mandatory contender
Thomas “Lionheart” Damgaard (34-0, 26 KOs), who recently became ill while
training in his native Denmark. This is the third time Rivera and Damgaard had
been scheduled to meet. The match was postponed twice last year at Madison
Square Garden, once due to the death of Damgaard’s father, which postponed their
April 17 bout, and for a second time on Oct. 2 after Rivera suffered a hand
injury.
Former unified world welterweight champion Ricardo “El Matador” Mayorga stepped
up to face Rivera on April 17, but Mayorga was unable to make the 147-pound
weight limit, so the match was canceled.
Collazo (24-1, 11 KOs), from Brooklyn, N.Y., is a southpaw with a
straightforward, exciting style. He floored highly regarded Felix Flores twice
and won a unanimous decision at Madison Square Garden on Oct. 2.
“I was willing to fight Rivera when Mayorga didn’t make weight last year at the
Garden but it didn’t happen,” Collazo said. “This is a fight I have wanted for
a long time. All I asked for is an opportunity and now I’ve got it. I hate to
disappoint all of Rivera’s fans in Worcester, but it’s Collazo time. I’m going
to win and be the new WBA welterweight champ.”
Don King Productions Vice President of Boxing Operations Bob Goodman said it
would be a mistake for Rivera to overlook Collazo.
“Luis stands right in front of you and comes to fight,” Goodman said. “It’s
important for Jose Rivera to stay focused as Collazo is a serious contender.
Rivera does not want to underestimate him for coming in late. Collazo has every
intention of arriving in Rivera’s hometown to relieve him of his title.”
Rivera seemed unfazed by the news of Damgaard’s illness.
“I am 100-percent ready to go on April 2 no matter who the opponent is,” Rivera
said. “I just want to fight. It seems like the Damgaard match was never meant
to be.”
Rivera became world champion by winning a majority decision over Michel Trabant
in Berlin, Germany, on Sept. 13, 2003.
Both Rivera and Collazo were born in America and attribute much of their ring
prowess to their boxing-rich Puerto Rican ancestry. Rivera has lived in
Worcester since he was 16.
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