Former welterweight beltholder Luis Collazo, who was last in the ring for a second-round knockout of Victor Ortiz in January, has signed with powerful boxing advisor Al Haymon.

Collazo (35-5, 18 knockouts) joins an impressive stable of fighters who have aligned with Haymon, including Floyd Mayweather Jr., Danny Garcia, Marcos Maidana, Adrien Broner, Lucas Matthysse, Peter Quillin, Deontay Wilder, Keith Thurman, Shawn Porter, Devon Alexander and Paulie Malignaggi.

"I'm excited to be joining Team Haymon," Collazo, a 32-year-old southpaw, stated in a prepared statement. "I'm looking forward to the doors this opportunity is going to open for me. I can't wait to get this partnership going. I'm looking forward to a big year ahead and signing with Team Haymon is just one of the first steps.

"He works with a lot of guys in my division and with this new step in the right direction, I'm sure I will be fighting some of them in the near future. God-willing I'll get the chance to be in the ring against Mayweather and prove what I've always thought, that I'm the best in the world."

Collazo has gone 6-1 with four knockouts victories in his past seven bouts, and is 4-0 with two knockouts since losing a 10-round unanimous decision to Freddy Hernandez in October of 2011.

Photo / Rich Kane-Hoganphotos