GLASGOW, Scotland – Nathaniel Collins and Cristobal Lorente couldn’t be separated after their breathless European title fight at the Braehead Arena.
The contest was also an official WBC eliminator as well as being for Lorente’s EBU featherweight title. Collins started strongly and had built up a healthy lead midway through the contest. Lorente did not shy away, however, and as the fight went on, Lorente came into it. The final scores of 115-114, 114-115, 114-114 were a fair assessment of the action, and Collins, now 17-0-1 (8 KOs), will be disappointed that he did not push on in the later rounds to take home the European title.
The opening round was cagey, with Collins, 29, edging forwards and looking to land, but Lorente was cautious and backed away. The second was again slow with little being thrown. Lorente, also 29, was wary of Collins, moving his head and fainting to throw but never actually doing much. Collins, in fairness, was trying to force the fight, but Lorente had no interest in trading leather with the Scotsman.
Collins landed the first real shot of note late into the third; a hard left uppercut that Lorente took well. Lorente responded and nailed Collins with a sharp right hand, but Collins whipped in a right hook before the session came to a close.
There were signs that the fight might open up in the fourth when Lorente started to push the pace and take the action to the challenger. The Scot boxed well off of the backfoot, inviting Lorente on before whipping in his left hand. Lorente landed a fair few shots of his own and seemed to be coping with the power of the Scot. Lorente was more active in the fifth and started to tag Collins as he dipped in low. Collins continued to have success with his left hand and rocked Lorente midway through the sixth. The fight then sparked into life, Lorente pushed forwards despite being hurt and poured on the pressure. Lorente landed often, but Collins whipped in flashy lefts that seemed to be having more of an effect on Lorente.
The pace of the fight dipped in the seventh and Collins was able to pick off Lorente as he edged forwards. Collins had now appeared to have earned a healthy lead and was able to counter as Lorente came in to turn the tide. The action then heated up in the ninth with both men standing in the center of the ring and unloading. Lorente had the workrate and chipped away at Collins, whose nose began to swell. Collins seemed to be struggling with the pace and Lorente was gaining confidence. The counters were no longer coming back from Collins in the tenth and Lorente was able to land his fast flurries with little landing in reply.
Lorente continued to march forwards in the 11th and Collins was toiling. He was, however, still finding a home for his left hand. They were certainly more eye-catching shots, but the crowd favorite was being outworked. After Lorente’s success in the later rounds it now seemed the fight was close heading into the 12th and final round. Both men needed it and they fought accordingly, throwing everything they had for three straight minutes. What had started out as a slow encounter had turned into a fun fight for the European title. There was respect from both at the final bell as they embraced each other after 12 hard fought rounds.
They eagerly anticipated the three judges' verdict. A score of 115-113 was read out first in favor of Collins, and the crowd's heart dropped as they discovered it would be a split decision. A further score of 115-113 was then read out, this time in favour of Lorente. The final scorecard of 114-114 was then announced, declaring the fight a draw. Lorente, now 20-0-3 (8 KOs), seemed the happier of the two fighters, most probably because he retained his EBU title with the draw.
