Steve Collins
| Steve Collins | |
|---|---|
 Collins in 2010 |
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| Statistics | |
| Real name | Stephen Collins |
| Nickname(s) | Celtic Warrior |
| Rated at | Super Middleweight |
| Nationality | Irish |
| Born | 21 July 1964 Cabra, Dublin, Ireland |
| Stance | Orthodox |
| Boxing record | |
| Total fights | 39 |
| Wins | 36 |
| Wins by KO | 21 |
| Losses | 3 |
| Draws | 0 |
| No contests | 0 |
Stephen Collins, more commonly known as Steve Collins, (born 21 July 1964, Cabra, Dublin, Ireland) is a former professional boxer. Known as the "The Celtic Warrior", Collins is the former WBO middleweight and super middleweight champion.
Collins began his professional career in America, and lost two world title fights on points. It was not until Collins reached his 30's that he fulfilled his potential. Having competed against the best boxers on both sides of the Atlantic, Collins tends to be linked more to the era in the UK when there was a great rivalry between British boxers Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn. He fought and beat both, twice.
He is the brother of former footballer and current (June 2011) manager of Monaghan United football club, Roddy Collins.
Contents |
[edit] Professional career
[edit] The Boston Years
Collins won 26 Irish titles at middleweight, light-heavyweight and cruiserweight as an amateur before turning professional in Massachusetts, U.S. in October 1986. His debut fight was against Julio Mercado on the undercard of a bill that featured his future trainer Freddie Roach and the future Fight of the Year winner Micky Ward. Collin's beat Mercado by way of knockout in the third round.
In Boston, Massachusetts in 1988, he defeated Sam Storey to win the Irish middleweight title, then defeated world #5, Kevin Watts. After reaching 16-0, Collins was outpointed by Mike McCallum over 12 rounds in a shot at the WBA middleweight title in Boston in 1990.
In 1992, Collins lost on points to Reggie Johnson in a battle for the vacant WBA middleweight title (which had been stripped from McCallum because he signed to fight IBF champion James Toney), and to Sumbu Kalambay for the European title in Italy, before beating Gerhard Botes of South Africa to win the WBC penta continental trinket in 1993.
[edit] WBO middleweight champion
Collins then based himself in England where he joined Barry Hearn's Matchroom Boxing. Alongside him was Paul "Silky" Jones, his sparring partner and good friend who later went on to become WBO light middleweight title holder. Collins was trained by Freddie King in the Romford training camp.
In 1994, he won a world title by defeating Chris Pyatt by stoppage in five rounds to become the WBO middleweight champion. The following year he relinquished this title without a defense, moving up to super middleweight and defeating the previously unbeaten long-reigning champion Chris Eubank in Millstreet, Cork, Ireland to win the WBO title.
[edit] WBO super middleweight champion
Collins took on Eubank in confident style with the first fight being won by Collins which Eubank said Collins played mind games. Collins had enlisted the help of well known guru Tony Quinn and they led the press to believe Collins would be hypnotised for the fight. True to form Collins sat in his corner and did not move, listening to headphones during Eubanks ring entrance.
In the rematch, Collins set a fast pace and adopted very wild, brawling tactics which Eubank struggled to deal with, and Collins again won a decision. He defended this title successfully seven times, including two fights against Nigel Benn (rtd4 and rtd6).
Collins was billed to defend against the up and coming Joe Calzaghe in October 1997, but withdrew at a late stage because of injury, had his title stripped, and retired. Chris Eubank stepped in to take Collins' place in fighting Calzaghe for the vacant WBO title.
Collins reportedly stated in the press that he had no motivation left as he had spent the best part of his career chasing Roy Jones Jr. for a unification fight that had been promised to him many times. A fight with Calzaghe would do nothing to satisfy the desire he had for fighting Jones. He then added he wanted to retire on a high note with a good pay day, "Joe is a good up-and-coming kid, but he wouldn't fill a parish church".
In 1999, he announced his decision to come out of retirement in order to fight Roy Jones Jr. Jones is said to have offered in excess of £3 million for the fight. Collins is said to have been suspicious regarding the money that Jones was offering and said to the papers that "for £3 million I would fight Mike Tyson"; this only spurred the spin doctors to assume it was a challenge at Iron Mike.
Controversy surrounded the fight as it was rumoured that Collins would have to fight Calzaghe first before a showdown with Jones. Collins had accepted this and started to prepare to fight Calzaghe. In his preparation training for the fight that was never to be, Collins collapsed during sparring. When doctors told him that blows to the head could result in his death, he retired for a second time.
He is reported to have stated in Boxing World that he has spent so long chasing Roy Jones Jr that money was not an important factor any more and that he would "fight him in a phone box in front of two men and a dog".
Collins retired with his then wife and children to the town of Bangor, County Down, with a record of: W 36 (21 KOs) – L 3.
[edit] Retirement
Steve has not entirely faded from the spotlight since his retirement. In 1998 he appeared in the film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (directed by Guy Ritchie) as a boxing gym bouncer.
In 1999, he made a cameo appearance in U2's video for "Sweetest Thing."
Collins featured in the British TV reality show Commando VIP that aired on Five. It put six celebrities through tough military-style challenges after being trained by three real commandos. He appeared alongside fellow ex-boxer Nigel Benn. Collins appeared on The Weakest Link Boxing Special. He was the 6th one voted off
He now lives in St Albans, England.
