Yudai Shigeoka Targeting Unification Fight Against Oscar Collazo
In the minimumweight division, a group of young, talented fighters are eager and looking to prove they’re the new top dogs at 105. Two of those fighters are WBC champion Yudai Shigeoka (8-0, 6 KOs) and WBO champion Oscar “El Pupilo” Collazo (8-0, 6 KOs), who could be on track to a unification showdown with each other.
FIGHTERS FULL OF AMBITION
Shigeoka captured the WBC belt with a unanimous decision win over Panya Pradabsri on October 7 in Tokyo, Japan. Following his victory, Shigeoka said Collazo was at the top of his list of opponents he would like to face. It was a shot across the bow at the minimumweight champ and spoke to the ambition of the newly crowned WBC champion.
The last time the WBO champion was in action, he was dominant in a fifth-round stoppage over Garen Diagan on August 26 in San Juan, Puerto. After the win against Daigan, El Pupilo said he’s ready for any potential challengers at 105.
Collazo shares Shigeoka’s willingness to test himself. They share a lot of similarities. Both men are 26 years old and skilled southpaws with good power in either hand. They have the style makeup that could result in quite an entertaining contest.
This fight will not happen in the immediate future. Word on the street is that Collazo will return to the ring in February 2024. His possible opponent could be Luis Castillo, currently ranked number one by the WBC and WBO at 105. The WBC champion will likely have a voluntary title defense in the first quarter of 2024.
But Shigeoka mentioning Collazo is something significant. The WBC champion hails from Japan, a financial hotbed for fighters in the lower-weight divisions. If he’s willing to call out a fighter, one would guess that his representatives are working behind the scenes to make that a reality. A Shigeoka – Collazo unification battle in Japan could very well occur in 2024.
