Oscar Collazo has called for the lighter-weight division fighters to get equal respect.

The WBA and WBO minimumweight champion was speaking ahead of his fight on Saturday at the Poliforum Benito Juárez in Cancun, Mexico, with the Mexican Edwin Cano Hernandez.

The promoter Oscar De La Hoya called Puerto Rican Collazo, who is 11-0 (8 KOs) and fights out of Newark, New Jersey, “one of the best pure boxers on the planet”.

Collazo, 28, said smaller fighters deserved the same credit as their larger counterparts for throwing punches, for taking them, and for making weight, and added: “We’re just as exciting as other divisions.

“It’s my first time in Cancun. It’s a pleasure to fight here, all the fans know about the great rivalry of Puerto Rico versus Mexico."

Hernandez is 13-2-1 (4 KOs), and he said national pride is at stake.

“I’m very happy to be part of this rivalry,” the 27 year old said. “I understand Oscar is a great fighter.”

Another smaller fighter, the super flyweight Joselito Valazquez, who is a 20-1-1 (13 KOs) Mexican who fights out of San Diego, meets 12-4-2 (7 KOs) countryman Adolfo Castillo Gonzalez.

Also on the bill, the Las Vegas-based Swede Robin Sirwan Safar, a 17-0 (12 KOs) cruiserweight contender, sees action when he faces Roberto Silva of Texas, who is 13-3 (7 KOs).

“Every time I step in the ring, I feel there’s always explosions,” said Safar. “I’m a very smart boxer, I use my brain a lot; to other people it might just look that I’m strong and I’ve got speed, but I actually use my brain a lot. I feel like my defense-skill is also way up there. You’re definitely going to see a victory.”

Elsewhere, at flyweight, Yokasta Valle – 32-3 (10 KOs) – pledged to show Mexican fight fans the level of women’s boxing. Fighting in Mexico for the first time, Valle is climbing two weights to fight Marlen Esparza.

“I was given the opportunity, why not?” she said. “This was an opportunity for women to shine and Marlen has done everything under the sun, from the Olympics to reigning in the flyweight division, and this is my opportunity to showcase my talent.”

They will box over 10 rounds, and Esparza, 15-2 (1 KO), thanked De La Hoya for showcasing women’s boxing in the lower weight classes. Of Valle moving up to face her, Esparza said: “Going up and down for women is not something that is out of this world; for women it happens a lot because of the amount of talent we’ve got; we’re still growing.”

De La Hoya said: “The winner will move on to bigger and better things. There’s no limit to what they can do. It’s a very important fight for women’s boxing. I’m very excited for this fight.’

The unbeaten welterweight prospect Cayden Griffiths, 3-0 (3 KOs), is also due to fight, against Fernando Elias Ruiz Hernandez, who is 2-0 (1 KO).

“It means a lot,” Griffiths said, of being on the card. “This is history. This is the first time I’ve fought outside the United States. I’m looking forward to putting on a show for the Mexican fans. Boxing is really rich in this country. I really wanna showcase my skill on a world level, and I hope the fans enjoy.”

De La Hoya added: “We strongly feel that this card here in Cancun is gonna be one of the best ones we’ve put on in many years.”