The Puerto Rican, who is rated No. 9 by The Ring pound-for-pound, feels a sense of duty to face the best.

"As a champion staying active is very important, staying on that pound-for-pound list, either unifying or defending the belts," Collazo (14-0, 11 KOs) told The Ring.

The 29-year-old southpaw beat Jesus Haro on March 14 and will have his second outing when he faces late substitute Neider Valdez on DAZN on Saturday at Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, California. Valdez replaces Joey Canoy, a Filipino contender who couldn’t travel to the United States because of visa issues.

The Ring, WBA and WBO strawweight titles will be at stake.

"My job is to stay ready for whoever my team puts in the ring," Collazo said. "While the Canoy fight didn't happen, my focus has shifted entirely to Neider Valdez this Saturday.

“Trust me, we're about to add another chapter of the historic Puerto Rico vs. Mexico rivalry.”

He hopes a victory will lead to further unifications in a bid to become Ring and undisputed champion.

"This is my eighth defense [of the WBO title]. Winning this fight because we always stay positive,” he said. “We’re going to look forward to two more fights this year and I want both to be unifications to finish the year as undisputed champion.”

Collazo wanted to face then-WBC 105-pound champion Melvin Jerusalem in a rematch, but he lost the title to Siyakholwa Kuse on May 16.

"I knew he was going to lose because the first fight was very close and I expected he was going to lose in South Africa," Collazo said. “[Jerusalem] got the knockdown, he tried his best. He lost to me [in May 2023] and got his opportunity to be champion again. It'll be just a matter of time before he bounces back and becomes champion once more."

Kuse subsequently mentioned facing Collazo.

"I'm very down for it," Collazo said. "Finishing this fight, hopefully everything goes good, we look forward to that fight."

He also scoffs at any notion that he doesn't want to face IBF ruler Pedro Taduran.

"I saw Taduran is going to his mandatory title defense, so I see this fight with Kuse could be possible, most likely by the next fight," he said.

"I want to fight the best of the best and Taduran is one of the best fighters there. I'm not the promoter, I'm not the manager, I can say whoever I want to fight but if the terms are not there or finalizing that is very complicated. Sean Gibbons and their team are becoming very difficult to make that fight. It's not in my hands.

“I know I'm going to win; I've got the skills. I know his weaknesses, I've seen him fight, I know what he's good at, I know what he's not good at. I want that fight. They do a lot of talking. I can't wait to get that fight. Imagine fighting for all the belts, winning against Kuse, fighting [Taduran] the last fight and being undisputed is going to be crazy."

Valdez (15-3-3, 12 KOs), s Monterrey native, remained unbeaten through his first 15 fights before tasting defeat for the first time against Erik Badillo (TKO 5) in March 2024.

The 25-year-old has subsequently lost to Erick Rosa (UD 12) when they met for the vacant WBA 108-pound title in December 2024.

Questions and/or comments can be sent to Anson at elraincoat@live.co.uk and you can follow him on X @AnsonWainwr1ght