Collazo & Fundora Win Titles, Barboza Impresses in Welterweight Debut | Boxing Results & Highlights
Anaheim, CA – – Oscar Collazo and Gabriela Fundora both delivered dominant performances, retaining their titles Saturday night at the Honda Center. The evening as well saw Arnold Barboza Jr. Make a successful debut in the welterweight division.
Collazo Continues Unbeaten Run
Unified strawweight champion Oscar Collazo improved to 14-0, with 11 knockouts, by forcing Jesus Haro to retire on his stool after six rounds. Collazo successfully defended his WBA and WBO titles with a display of sustained pressure and body work. From the outset, Collazo dictated the pace, recognizing early that Haro lacked the power to trouble him.
The fight began to shift decisively in Collazo’s favor after the third round. He began targeting Haro’s body with increasing power, visibly impacting the challenger with each blow. Haro, clearly feeling the strain, resorted to backing away and covering up, attempting to weather the storm. By the end of the sixth, Haro was exhausted and unable to continue, marking Collazo’s fourth consecutive stoppage victory.
Statistics from the bout highlighted Collazo’s dominance, landing 128 of 287 punches (44.5%) compared to Haro’s 38 of 229 (16.5%). The numbers underscored the one-sided nature of the contest and Collazo’s control throughout.
Fundora Dominates Ruiz, Hints at Weight Class Change
Gabriela Fundora continued her impressive reign as the undisputed flyweight champion, securing a one-sided stoppage victory over Viviana Ruiz. Fundora, ranked No. 4 by ESPN in the women’s pound-for-pound rankings, utilized her height and reach advantage to control the fight, earning her fourth consecutive stoppage win.
Ruiz, at 43, struggled to generate any meaningful offense against the younger and longer Fundora. The champion effectively used her jab and footwork to keep Ruiz at bay, preventing her from mounting a sustained attack. Despite Ruiz’s attempts to pressure Fundora, she repeatedly found herself absorbing combinations. A left hand in the fifth round sent Ruiz to the canvas, foreshadowing the eventual outcome.
The fight concluded in the seventh round as Fundora unleashed a barrage of punches, prompting referee Ray Corona to intervene. Following the victory, Fundora expressed interest in potentially moving down to the 108-pound weight class, a prospect that could present significant challenges for future opponents. “I just want the fans to go home every time saying, ‘Damn, she got another knockout,’” Fundora stated.
Barboza Jr. Impresses in Welterweight Debut
Former interim champion Arnold Barboza Jr. Successfully transitioned to the welterweight division, earning a unanimous decision victory over Kenneth Sims Jr. The win marked Barboza’s return to the win column after suffering his first professional loss to Teofimo Lopez last May.
Barboza controlled the fight from the opening bell, consistently outmaneuvering Sims and minimizing damage, aside from a cut sustained from a clash of heads. He demonstrated a clear understanding of distance and timing, picking his spots to land combinations while avoiding sustained attacks from his opponent. The judges’ scorecards reflected Barboza’s dominance: 117-111, 118-110, and 120-108.
With this performance, Barboza has established himself as a formidable contender in the 147-pound weight class, showcasing his adaptability and skill in a recent division. He appears poised to make a significant impact in the welterweight landscape.