What Happened to Oscar Manuel Collazo?
Oscar Collazo, known as 'El Pupilo,' is an undefeated Puerto Rican professional boxer and a unified minimumweight world champion. He has held the WBO, WBA (Super version), and The Ring minimumweight titles, and recently captured the WBO International flyweight title in June 2026, signaling a potential move to higher weight classes.
Quick Answer
Oscar Collazo is an undefeated Puerto Rican professional boxer who holds the WBO, WBA (Super version), and The Ring minimumweight world titles. On June 20, 2026, he successfully moved up in weight to defeat Neider Valdez via second-round knockout, securing the WBO International flyweight title. Collazo, with a professional record of 15-0 (12 KOs), is now considering further challenges in the junior flyweight and flyweight divisions, aiming for undisputed status and bigger fights.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline13 events
Born in Newark, New Jersey
Oscar Manuel Collazo was born in Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Pan American Games Gold Medalist
Collazo won a gold medal at the 2019 Pan American Games in Lima, Peru, during his successful amateur career.
Professional Debut
Oscar Collazo made his professional boxing debut against Vicente Castro Cheneque, winning by third-round technical knockout.
WBO Title Eliminator Victory
Collazo defeated Yudel Reyes by fifth-round knockout in a WBO mini-flyweight title eliminator bout.
Wins WBO Minimumweight World Title
Collazo defeated Melvin Jerusalem via seventh-round stoppage to become the WBO mini-flyweight world champion, making him the fastest Puerto Rican to win a world title.
Second WBO Title Defense
Collazo successfully defended his WBO mini-flyweight title for the second time, defeating Reyneris Gutierrez via third-round TKO.
Unifies WBO, WBA, and The Ring Titles
In a historic unification bout, Collazo defeated Thammanoon Niyomtrong (Knockout CP Freshmart) by seventh-round technical knockout, adding the WBA (Super version) and the inaugural The Ring minimumweight titles to his collection.
Defends Unified Titles Against Edwin Cano
Collazo defended his unified WBO, WBA, and The Ring minimumweight titles against Edwin Cano, winning by fifth-round knockout.
Defends Unified Titles Against Jayson Vayson
Oscar Collazo successfully defended his unified minimumweight titles against Jayson Vayson with a seventh-round technical knockout.
Defends Unified Titles Against Jesus Haro
Collazo secured his seventh consecutive title defense by forcing Jesus Haro's corner to stop the fight before the start of the seventh round.
Joey Canoy Withdraws from Scheduled Fight
Original opponent Joey Canoy withdrew from the June 20, 2026, fight due to visa issues, leading to Neider Valdez stepping in as a late replacement.
Wins WBO International Flyweight Title
Collazo defeated Neider Valdez via second-round knockout, securing the WBO International flyweight title in a non-title bout at flyweight.
Eyes Move to Higher Weight Classes
Following his flyweight victory, Collazo and Golden Boy Promotions are discussing a potential move to junior flyweight or flyweight, with Ricardo Sandoval mentioned as a possible future opponent.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
Oscar Manuel Collazo, born on January 15, 1997, in Newark, New Jersey, and representing Puerto Rico, has rapidly ascended through the professional boxing ranks, earning the moniker 'El Pupilo.' His amateur career was notable, including winning five national amateur boxing titles, a bronze medal at the 2017 Pan American Championships, and a gold medal at the 2019 Pan American Games.
Collazo made his professional debut on February 15, 2020, with a third-round technical knockout victory. He quickly established himself as a formidable force in the minimumweight division, showcasing his southpaw stance and impressive knockout power. His journey to a world title culminated on May 27, 2023, when he defeated Melvin Jerusalem via seventh-round stoppage to claim the WBO mini-flyweight title, becoming the fastest Puerto Rican fighter to win a world title in just his seventh professional bout.
Throughout 2024 and 2025, Collazo continued to dominate the minimumweight division. He successfully defended his WBO title against Reyneris Gutierrez in January 2024 and Gerardo Zapata in June 2024. A significant turning point in his career came on November 16, 2024, when he faced longtime WBA champion Thammanoon Niyomtrong (Knockout CP Freshmart) in a historic unification bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Collazo secured a seventh-round technical knockout, adding the WBA (Super version) and the inaugural The Ring minimumweight championships to his collection, solidifying his status as a unified champion.
Collazo continued his reign in 2025, defending his unified titles against Edwin Cano in March and Jayson Vayson in September, both ending in stoppage victories. His dominance extended into 2026, with a successful defense against Jesus Haro on March 14, where Haro's corner stopped the fight before the seventh round. As of June 2026, Collazo's professional record stood at an unblemished 14-0 with 11 knockouts.
On June 20, 2026, Collazo was scheduled to defend his unified minimumweight titles against Joey Canoy, but Canoy withdrew due to visa issues. Neider Valdez stepped in as a short-notice replacement, and the bout was contested at flyweight for the WBO International flyweight title, not Collazo's unified minimumweight belts. Collazo delivered a spectacular performance, knocking out Valdez in the second round after dropping him three times, thus claiming the WBO International flyweight title. This victory marks his fifteenth professional win and twelfth knockout, further fueling discussions about his potential move to higher weight classes, with Golden Boy Promotions confirming internal discussions about a potential fight with unified flyweight champion Ricardo Sandoval.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if Oscar Manuel Collazo made different choices?