Unified minimumweight champion Oscar Collazo will defend his WBA, WBO and Ring Magazine titles against recently deceased replacement Neider Valdez this Saturday, June 20, at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California.

Valdez (15-3-3, 12 KO) steps in after Joey Canoy was forced to withdraw from his scheduled championship fight due to visa issues. The fight will remain a 12-round world title defense and will be broadcast live on DAZN.

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Last updated: 17/06/2026 at 23:58

“I really fought this fight like I was the champion and he was the challenger,” Andy Cruz told BoxeoCurbanoNetwork. “What happened was that I felt comfortable. I could have taken a little more risk, but I said that because he was the champion, I wasn’t going to risk getting hit with even one punch. I wanted to beat him cleanly. I wanted my punches to be as neat as possible.” I think I was a more effective fighter but I am aware that when you fight a champion, you have to rise well above the champion.”

Cruz (6-1, 3 KO) submitted Muratalla by a 12-round majority in a fight that many fans believed was closer than the official scores of 118-110, 116-112 and 114-114. It was the first professional defeat of Cruz’s career and his first fight scheduled for 12 rounds.

Despite the setback, Cruz said he gained valuable experience and still wants to finish unfinished business with the IBF lightweight champion.

“I wanted the rematch immediately, but it’s going to happen and I don’t mind,” Cruz said. “I can’t complain because I get a chance to fight for the title soon if I can get through this elimination. I can tell he knows he won’t face the same Andy Cruz.”

Before a second fight with Muratalla becomes a reality, Cruz must first defeat Albert Bell (28-0, 9 KO) on July 18 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California. This fight is an IBF lightweight title eliminator.

The winner will be in position to fight Muratalla, who is scheduled to defend his IBF lightweight title against Robson Conceicao on August 1. If Muratalla retains the belt and remains at lightweight, the Bell-Cruz winner will be in line to fight for the championship.

Terence Crawford dethroned Canelo Alvarez in September 2025 by unanimous decision.

Canelo has now lost three times in his career, defeating only elite fighters; Floyd Mayweather, Dmitry Bivol and Crawford. The four-division world champion from Mexico has never been stopped or even knocked down in his 68-fight career.

In his match against Crawford, Canelo suffered his first loss at super middleweight, even though Crawford had moved up significantly to capture Alvarez’s undisputed crown and become the first undisputed three-weight champion since Henry Armstrong in 1938. It was a comprehensive victory, but Alvarez once again didn’t look hurt despite 31 KOs on Bud’s ledger.

I keep talking The Joe Rogan experienceCrawford – who retired a few months after this latest victory – explained that he felt he was unable to keep the Mexican icon at bay due to his “ginger” genetics.

“They say redheads are difficult to knock out. It’s proven, I googled them, what are they called? Redheads. I assure you.”

“Yes, [they have a higher pain tolerance]I looked it up because my cousin is a nurse and she said, “Yes, those redheads, it’s difficult to put them to sleep even if you give them anesthetic to lend a hand them sleep.”

“When she told me that, I thought, ‘Damn! That’s why Canelo can take so many good shots.'”

Studies show that natural redheads often require approximately 20% more general anesthesia to maintain sedation and may be resistant to local anesthetics. Less explored is how this translates into the ring.

Alvarez will be looking to show his resilience again as he tries to regain the WBC super middleweight title on September 12 in Riyad, where will face newly crowned champion Christian Mbilli.