Collazo Drops And Stops Ortiz in Hometown Throwdown

Luis Collazo pulled off a semi stunner of a win, knocking out comebacking Victor Ortiz at the Barclays Center on Thursday evening. Ortiz was coming back since getting his jaw broken in a June 2012 bout with Josesito Lopez. He got caught with a right hook in round two, after getting tagged with Collazo lefts. He hit the deck, and was on his knees, a blank look on his face as the ref counted. His eyes and brain didn’t reset, and he was counted out.

Collazo, who held a welter crown in 2004-2005, registered a pretty darned impressive second act. He’s 32, and now in line for a solid money scrap.

A deeply spiritual man, he thanked God again and again, giving credit to the man upstairs for his effort. He said he had no doubt he’d win, and he knew that Ortiz would throw wide, and he could use it against him. He referenced past hard times, and said now, he’s ready to perform at peak level, and stay focused.

“I’m not a big puncher, but I’m a hooker,” he said. “A lot of people say I’m not a big puncher, but I guess they’re wrong.”

And next? “I want Floyd Mayweather, in New York City, I want what the fans want!” he said.

Ortiz after said, “I’m good, I got caught, it’s no big deal. I’m just one of the fighters, I put my heart out there.”

Here is a Golden Boy release on the rest of the night’s action:

In the co-main event undefeated prospect Eddie “E-Boy” Gomez (16-0, 10 KO’s) defeated previously unbeaten Daquan “King” Arnett (11-1, 7 KO’s) of Orlando, FL in a hard-fought 10-round super welterweight bout.  Gomez, who with this win puts himself in a position for a world title shot, was elated when he heard his name called as the fighter with his undefeated record intact.

“I just took my time in there and did what I had to do,” said Gomez. “Now I’m just happy.”

Gomez continued, “I should have gone to the body earlier and I think I could have gotten him in four or five rounds.  I’m just thankful for the opportunity to get this fight. I took full advantage and worked hard.”

Arnett, was gracious in defeat and enthusiastic about the road ahead despite his first loss.

“This is the beginning for me not the end,” said Arnett.  “I am going to come back stronger and will take this and learn from it.”

Undefeated Gary Russell Jr. (24-0, 11 KO’s) of Capitol Heights, MD kicked off the FOX Sports 1/FOX Deportes telecast with a bang in the form of a fourth-round knockout of Obregon, Mexico’s Miguel Tamayo (14-8-2, 12 KO’s).  Despite a slow start in the opening round, Russell Jr. turned up the energy and showcased his skills, sending Tamayo to the canvas in the fourth round, rendering him unable to get up from the canvas.

“I felt good in the ring tonight,” said Russell Jr.  “I paced myself and worked towards what I wanted.  I felt prepared.  I went through six weeks of training and I rose to the occasion.

Russell Jr. continued, “I am looking toward the future and getting a shot at a world title.”

In non-televised undercard action, some of New York’s most exciting young prospects showcased their skills with impressive wins.

Barclays Center regular “Sir” Marcus Browne (9-0, 7 KO’s) of Staten Island made the most of his seventh appearance at the arena as he went the distance against Shreveport, LA’s Kentrell Claiborne (4-9, 3 KO’s) in a six-round cruiserweight bout. The 2012 U.S. Olympian was happy that his opponent had a “head made of stone” so that he could get more experience in the ring.

“I got some good rounds in,” said Browne.  “I’m learning how to be a distance fighter and to prove I could keep my composure.”

Local Bronx up and comer Emmanuel “Manny” Gonzalez (14-0, 7 KO’s) went the distance against Victor Sanchez of Houston, TX (5-8-2, 2 KO’s) in an eight-round featherweight matchup that saw Gonzalez winning nearly ever round on all three judges’ scorecards despite a point deduction for holding in the seventh round.  Gonzalez also looked at his eight-round bout as a learning experience.

“This is the first eight-rounder that I’ve fought [that has gone the distance] in about a year and a half,” said Gonzalez. “I definitely got a little winded, but I will work even harder next time and continue to be undefeated.”

Newly-signed Golden Boy Promotions prospect Zachary “Zungry” Ochoa (6-0, 3 KO’s) of Brooklyn put on a strong performance in a four-round super lightweight fight against Jose Valderrama (3-7, 3 KO’s) of Manati, Puerto Rico in Ochoa’s inaugural performance as a member of the Golden Boy Promotions stable.

In the first fight of the evening, Rafael Vasquez of Brooklyn, NY (10-1, 8 KO’s) scored a first-round technical knockout over Bradley Patraw (10-7, 5 KO’s) of St. Paul, Minn. in featherweight action that was scheduled for eight rounds.

Ortiz vs. Collazo was presented by Golden Boy Promotions and sponsored by Corona and Casamigos Tequila.

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