Antonio Collado, a 25-year-old boxer with a record of 18-1 and 3 knockouts, recently defeated Rafael Hernández by unanimous decision. The fight was a clear victory for Collado, who sent Hernández to the canvas twice, in the second and sixth rounds.
According to Collado, “The fight was tense because Hernández has danger and I had to decipher him”. He demonstrated his physical condition, precision, and good timing throughout the fight, which was crucial in avoiding a potential surprise from his opponent, who has 27 knockouts in his record. Collado expressed his confidence, stating “I am very confident. Right now, what I touch I break it. I am seeing myself very well with the sparring and this later moves to the fights”.
This was Collado’s first fight of the year, and he returned to his origins, training at the Vallecano Rayo Gymnasium in Madrid, where he first started boxing. The gym is led by Manolo del Río, a nonagenarian and one of the most experienced coaches in Spain. Collado has a phrase tattooed on his body, “With the legs he is boxing and with his hands he hits,” which is a testament to del Río’s influence on his career.
Looking ahead to 2025, Collado has ambitious plans. He is set to return to the ring on March 8, although his opponent has not been confirmed yet. The fight will take place at the Rivas Vaciamadrid Covibar Room, and Collado is eager to secure a victory. Before that, he will travel to Seville to watch the fight between ‘Falito’ Acosta and Carlos ‘Mouse’ Pérez for the Ebu Silver title in the lightweight category. Collado’s goal is to face the winner of that fight or compete for the Spanish Championship again if the opportunity arises. His main objective for the year is to win a blue belt, but he also wants to deliver a great performance for his audience in Rivas Vaciamadrid, stating “The first is a great fight for my Rivas Vaciamadrid audience”.