Undefeated featherweight and world-ranked Ruben Villa (17-0, 5 KOs) is winding down his training for his 10-round showdown with Cuban knockout artist Alexei Collado (26-2, 23 KOs), this Friday night at the Hirsch Memorial Coliseum in Shreveport, Louisiana. The bout will headline a three-fight telecast on ShoBox: The New Generation and live on SHOWTIME (10 PM ET/PT). 

Villa has been working hard just outside of his native Salinas, California.

"Training camp has been good. I have been training in Prunedale which is a little bit outside of Salinas, but its close enough, so in a way I am home, but I am not at home."

In Collado, he is facing a tough veteran, who has an impressive knockout ratio.

"Collado is a real strong aggressive guy. He is a veteran. I have to be cautious because of his power and play it very smart on our end."

With a winning performance on January 31st, Villa can see himself in the middle of the featherweight title chase as he looks to improve on his number-five ranking by the WBO.

"I feel like I've proven myself with the last couple of fights. I feel like I belong in the top-five if not higher. I feel that a win will set me up for bigger and better things. "  

Villa has been more them grateful to accelerate from prospect to contender on the series that has showcased more than 75 world champions.

"Another main event on ShoBox. I am excited to showcase my talents in Louisiana again. It's motivation to prove myself to people that I should be the main event."

"I am usually just real focused. I know the featherweight division is stacked, but I am really just focused on what is in front of me and focused for the fight. After we are finished on January 31st, my team and I can figure out what is next; however, I feel that I am close to competing for a world title."

Villa is promoted by Banner Promotions and Thompson Boxing.

Undefeated Ukrainian and 2012 Olympic Bronze medalist Taras Shelestyuk (17-0, 10 KOs) meets Argentina's Luis Alberto Veron (18-1-2, 9 KOs) in a 10-round welterweight matchup in the co-featured bout. The televised opener features an eight-round lightweight bout pitting ShoBox veteran Zhora Hamazaryan (9-1-1, 6 KOs) of Armenia  against Sulaiman Segawa (13-2, 4 KOs) of Uganda.