The WBO announced Tuesday it will convene a special meeting Wednesday to rule on a request to replace sidelined minimumweight title challenger Joey Canoy with Luis “Flechita” Castillo.
Canoy 25-5-2 (15 KOs), from the Philippines, is out of Saturday’s title fight in Oceanside, California, due to “the unfortunate inability … to secure the necessary work visa to compete,” WBO President Gustavo Olivieri posted on “X.”
Unified champion Oscar Collazo 14-0 (11 KOs) was due to defend his belt against Canoy, who’s the WBO No. 5-ranked 105lbs contender. In order to fight for the WBO belt, a contender must be ranked within the sanctioning body’s top 15.
So Collazo co-promoter Miguel Cotto has submitted a written request to the WBO’s Ratings and Championship Committee to provide sanction approval and allow Mexico’s Sampson Lewkowicz-promoted Castillo 22-1-1 (14 KOs) to fight for the title at Frontwave Arena.
The Golden Boy Promotions card, to be streamed by DAZN, is loaded with prospects from Oscar De La Hoya’s company.