Q & A with Luis Collazo: I’m back, I feel great, and I’m still dangerous.

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    “People might think I’m done.  People might think that I’m finished but you know what, I don’t’ feel like I’m finished.  This fight here is going to open up the minds and eyes of people and make them think ‘this guy is still dangerous’ “ said former WBA World Welterweight beltholder Luis Collazo who is making his return to the ring on October 20th at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, NY.  ThaBoxingVoice.com had the chance to speak with Luis earlier this week in an exclusive interview.   

     

    Here’s what he had to say:

    Luis, the last time we saw you was one year ago at the Staples Center on the Hopkins-Dawson undercard. Can you please bring us up to speed?  How have you spent the last twelve months?

     

    After that loss, I found out I had a torn labrum on my right shoulder and had to have surgery.  I did my therapy and then I went to the desert for almost 4 months.  I feel great now.  I started with a new conditioning coach, Scooter Honig, one of the great conditioning coaches in boxing and thank god everything’s been healing up right.  He and the therapist kept in contact. They talked about the things I could do, the things I couldn’t do, the things I could improve.  They both worked together.  It took 4-5 months to really heal up.  I’ve been working with Scooter since, trying to build up the strength and get the movement back and I feel great.  My shoulder is awesome.

    You’re preparing to face Steve Chambers at the Barclays Center on Oct. 20.  How have you been preparing for this fight and where have you held camp?

     

    He’s a boxer. He comes and he tries to move a lot but has some flaws that he does that I have to capitalize on.  Come October 20th, I just have to go in there, handle my business and come out with the victory.  I’m still with Nirmal Lorick and Willie Vargas- the same team.  Camp was in Detroit at Kronk Gym.  It was an awesome camp.  The sparring over there is outstanding. 

     

    On training at the legendary Kronk Gym.

     

    It was awesome. When I was there the first day, they were like “uh-oh, we got fresh meat!” [laughs] The atmosphere was great and you know you were in the gym.  You had great sparring.  You had some upcoming guys there that you know we’ll see in the near future.  But we did some great sparring up there. It was awesome.

    This card on the 20th of October must be special for you, fighting in Brooklyn in front of your home fans. Tell us how you feel about being part of such a great night for the sport just minutes from where you grew up.

     

    Well, you know, I’ve fought in Brooklyn before but this is like a different category. The stadium here is just phenomenal. The outcome of the concerts that have taken place and the build up for the fight is outstanding- it’s incredible.  They haven’t held a boxing event of this caliber in Brooklyn in 60-70 years. I’m just excited to be on this card.  To represent not only my race but Brooklyn, where I was born and raised and I still reside.

    Let’s go back to last October.  A lot of people expected you to make easy work of Freddy Hernandez.  Tell us about what factors attributed to that loss?

     

    You know, I had a long layoff before that fight.  My timing was off.  I felt out of place, actually.  It was a different weight class.  I had to go the drawing board and it happens in boxing.  You never know.  Styles make fights some times and you might have an off night but I felt off- my timing.  And I’m the type of fighter that needs to stay busy and stay active in order to perform at my level. The level I, and my team, know I could perform in.  Things happen for a reason and maybe I wasn’t ready.  Maybe I should not have fought at 154 but now I’m back at 147 and I’m going to take that loss as motivation.  People might think I’m done.  People might think that I’m finished but you know what, I don’t’ feel like I’m finished.  This fight here is going to open up the minds and eyes of people and make them think “this guy is still dangerous.”

    How are you different as a result of that loss to Freddy Hernandez?

     

    I’m more motivated now. For some reason now, like when I lost to Andre Berto, those types of losses, they bring you down and even though the fans try to bring you up and cheer you up, at the end of the day, you still have to go home and you’re by yourself. There are no fans around and no one around but yourself and when you’re by yourself you think a lot and you think “you know what you got to go back to the drawing board. Let’s go back to where I belong: the welterweight division.  Where now it’s getting more exciting because you got the Jr. Welterweights coming up; I’m just more motivated.  My promoters believe in me and they expect more from me. So I got to go out there and perform not only for myself but for my team and the people I have around me. Come October 20th, I will do that. 

    You and Paulie Malignaggi were both on that card last year, hot on the comeback trail.  He won his fight against Orlando Lora then went on to beat Vyacheslav Senchenko for the WBA title and is now co-headlining this event at the Barclay’s Center.  You unfortunately did not win your match. Is it motivating for you to see that kind of progression and comeback of a fellow boxer or is it more natural to dwell on the “what ifs” and think “man, that could have been me.”

     

    That’s one thing I don’t do anymore.  I don’t want to dwell.  The past is the past. Let’s move on.  Paulie’s a great friend of mine- he’s like a brother from another mother. We grew up together in the amateurs, the New York Golden Gloves and me and Paulie are good friends. I’m happy for him. He deserves it.  At one time, we felt that he was down and out but he rose to the occasion and look where he’s at.  Right now he’s on top of the world.  He loves it.  He works hard.  Anything is possible. Not only in boxing but every aspect of life and as long as you put your all into it, hey you can do it.  

    With regards to your fight on the 20th, Steve Chambers is not known as a particularly strong puncher but he is a crafty boxer with a strong record in fights that have gone the distance.  What is your game plan once you get in the ring?

     

    You know, we gotta go out there and feel him out.  I know he likes boxing a lot- like moving his legs.  He’s smart so I have to pace myself and not rush the fight ‘cause there’s no reason for it.  I believe that I did that in my last fight.  I was rushing too much.  If the knockout comes it comes but I’m just going in there trying to get that win, perform and look good.

     

    What else do you want to say to your fans?

     

    Thank you so much for the support through the years. I’m sorry I let you down in the past but I’m back and I’m excited.  If you can make it to the fight Oct. 20th, don’t miss it.  It’s going to be an exciting event and exciting night- a historic night.