By Jake Donovan

For the second time in as many fights, Keith Thurman headlines the inaugural installment of a Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) event on a new network. Four months after reintroducing casual fans to prime time boxing on NBC, the unbeaten Floridian heads home for a welterweight title defense versus former champ Luis Collazo at the USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Florida.

ESPN will air the event live on its flagship network, marking the first of an exclusive deal with PBC.

Thurman (25-0-1, 21KOs) came out on top in the most viewed TV fight (network or cable) in 2015 to date, scoring a 12-round decision over Robert Guerrero in March. Upwards of 4 million viewers caught some portion of the fight, in which Thurman floored the iron-chinned Guerrero but was unable to put him away.

The distance fight was his second straight, as Thurman cruised to a 12-round decision over Leonard Bundu in a rust-shaking bout last December.

Despite the pair of back-to-back decision wins, the 26-year old remains a star on the rise due to his all-action style (the Bundu fight notwithstanding). He showed as much in sensational knockout wins over Diego Chaves and Jesus Soto Karass, emerging as a breakout fighter on the rise in a sensational 2013 ring campaign.

Wins over Julio Diaz and then Bundu comrpised of his year that was in 2014, stuck in a holding pattern along with most of the fighters advised by Al Haymon due to a falling out with Golden Boy Promotions. With PBC now in full bloom, Thurman has emerged as the face of the franchise, with many hoping for him to either land a mouthwatering clash with Floyd Mayweather or to stand as the fighter to whom the torch is passed once the pound-for-pound king is ready to call it a career.

Standing in his way is Collazo (36-6, 19KOs), a Nuyorican southpaw who once stood tall among the world's best welterweights.

Collazo's lone title reign began with a road win, marching into the Worcestor, Mass. hometown of Jose Rivera to claim a decision and a welterweight belt in their Apr. '05 clash. His reign ended in the very same state, dropping a controversial decision to Ricky Hatton 13 months later in Boston.

Sadly, he's become best known for his losses at the top level, including landslide defeats at the hands of Shane Mosley and Amir Khan. More credible to his career was a brave showing versus then-unbeaten Andre Berto, coming up just short in their Jan. '09 clash that could have gone either way.

Collazo was believed to be on his way out when brought in as the comeback opponent of choice for Victor Ortiz. Their pre-Super Bowl clash last January instead resurrected the New Yorker's career, scoring a shocking 2nd round knockout in Brooklyn to set up a big payday—although in a losing effort—versus Khan last May. His last bout was of the tune-up variety, scoring a 2nd round knockout of journeyman Christopher Degollado this past April.

Read on to see how the staff at krikya360.com believes Saturday's welterweight action goes down.

krikya360.com STAFF PREDICTIONS: KEITH THURMAN vs. LUIS COLLAZO

Ryan Burton (Thurman TKO10): After going the distance with Guerrero and Bundu, I believe that Thurman will be looking to make a statement and will score a late stoppage over the former champion.   

Jake Donovan (Thurman KO9): Few if any give Collazo a shot at winning here, and I'm not convinced he's even giving himself a chance. Once upon a style, Collazo was the type of fighter who could cause fits for a young, defensively-challenged slugger like Thurman. Those days are long gone, a lesson Thurman serves up in style in a one-sided assault leading to a mercy stoppage.

Michael Gibbons (Thurman TKO7): Thurman may press a little hard in the early going and make this fight more difficult than it has to be but he will eventually find Collazo and force a stoppage.

David Greisman (Thurman Dec.): I expect Collazo to show up in better form than he did against Amir Khan and to be game, but I also think Thurman's will patiently stalk and control the fight with his power, taking a closer but clear decision.

Peter Lim (Thurman Dec.): Collazo is the quintessential gatekeeper of the welterweight division who always comes to fight, win, lose or draw. But Thurman is the real deal, and as he proved against Robert Guerrero, he has little difficulty against southpaws. Collazo will bring the best out of Thurman who wins a hard-fought unanimous decision.

Takahiro Onaga (Thurman KO7): Thurman needs to look good after disappointing decision wins. He'll box for a bit here then finish off Collazo to rebuild his knockout image a bit.

Cliff Rold (Thurman KO):  I think Collazo might give Thurman some tough rounds but eventually the younger, quicker, and harder hitting Thurman puts him away.

Victor Salazar (Thurman KO8): Thurman might have early trouble with the southpaw underdog but he should prove too young too good and too big for the Brooklynite. I expect Thurman to stop Collazo in the 8th in front of his hometown crowd.

Alexey Sukachev (Thurman UD): Collazo is on his way out and it might be his last chance for glory. I cannot see him winning though: he is slower, less gifted and doesn't pack a punch to stop Thurman. But he is sturdy, and the only time he was stopped was long ago. He hasn't been stopped since despite fighting such a puncher as Shane Mosley or versatile boxer-puncher as Amir Khan. He should go the distance this time too.

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of krikya360.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox