Clay Collard tests positive for COVID-19, out of Lomachenko vs. Lopez undercard

Middleweight boxer Clay Collard tests positive for COVID-19 and is off the undercard of the Vasiliy Lomachenko vs. Teofimo Lopez main event. 

Despite the pandemic, middleweight boxer Clay Collard was having an electric 2020. Unfortunately, the pandemic has finally obstructed his breakout year.

In the early evening on Tuesday, Oct. 13, ESPN announced that Collard tested positive for COVID-19 and is off the undercard of the lightweight unification bout between Vasiliy Lomachenko and Teofimo Lopez. His positive test result was later confirmed in a press release via Top Rank.

Collard (9-2-3, 4 KOs), 27, of Burley, Idaho, was an MMA fighter turned boxer. He made his MMA debut in 2011 and compiled an 18-8 record. He first fought as a professional boxer in 2017, defeating Jamey Swanson by split decision.

Collard’s career in boxing wasn’t smooth sailing. His record wasn’t flawless, but he caught fire in 2020. He won five straight fights this year with three of those wins coming by stoppage.

Clay Collard was undefeated in his 2020 campaign but is out of his bout on the Oct. 17 Lomachenko vs. Lopez undercard.

Collard became a fan favorite with his brawling performances in Top Rank’s bubble, starting with a split decision upset over the then-undefeated David Kaminsky. He collected two more wins in ‘The Bubble’ via back to back TKOs.

Collard was set to fight Quincy LaVallais (9-0-1, 5 KOs). He fought LaVallais back in June of 2019, and they fought to a draw. Collard told the media during a Tuesday press conference before his positive result that he was looking to make up for his draw against LaVallais.

In regards to his positive COVID-19 test, Collard told ESPN, ”this won’t stop me for long.”

Hopefully, Collard makes a speedy recovery and can fight again before the end of 2020. He has shown a ton of heart and is willing to fight anybody anywhere, which is why he is beloved by boxing fans.

Vasiliy Lomachenko meets Teofimo Lopez in a highly-anticipated lightweight unification bout on Saturday, Oct. 17. The entire card will be on ESPN, ESPN Deportes, and ESPN+ starting at 7:30 p.m. ET.