GLASGOW, Scotland – Nathaniel Collins is edging closer to a shot at a featherweight world title.
Scotland’s Collins is ranked No. 1 by the WBC at 126lbs and will likely be ordered to face current belt holder Stephen Fulton should he be victorious over Cristobal Lorente here at Braehead Arena on Saturday.
The situation with the WBC featherweight title at present is somewhat of a confusing one. Fulton, the titleholder, has announced a move up in weight to face WBC 130lb belt holder O’Shaquie Foster, meaning it is unlikely that he will fight at 126lbs again. Bruce Carrington is the current WBC interim titlist at featherweight, and would likely be promoted to full belt holder should Fulton announce plans to stick at junior lightweight. Ray Vargas is also currently stated as “champion in recess” by the WBC and can land a shot at the title whenever he chooses to return.
Despite the complexities at featherweight, Collins is confident that a win over Lorente will land him a shot at the green-and-gold belt.
“Yeah, hopefully after this, I've seen the WBC put up on the website that the winner of this will fight Stephen Fulton, so if that can come off, brilliant,” Collins told BoxingScene. “I know Fulton's fighting up at super feather now, so if he doesn't come back down, then possibly [fight for] a vacant world title or fight the interim champion.”
Should Collins be successful in claiming the WBC title, a difficult enough feat alone, a natural fight to make would be an in-house one against fellow Queensberry fighter and WBA featherweight titleholder Nick Ball. Collins’ and Ball’s paths were set to cross back in 2024 when Collins held the British featherweight title. Ball, however, was given a shot against Vargas for the WBC belt, and the clash never materialized. Ball was unfortunate not to claim the belt, with the bout being scored a draw, but he didn’t have to wait long for another shot at a title. He fought Ray Ford three months later and successfully dethroned the then-WBA titlist by split decision.
Collins was asked if a fight against Ball down the line is still of interest to him should they both hold titles.
“Yeah, definitely,” he replied. “Listen, we've been linked for years now. We were meant to fight back when I won the British title. We were meant to fight for the British. He got the WBC silver and obviously got his shot at Ray Vargas, and we just went different paths. But it seems like we're back on the course of coming back together, and if that happens, then great.”
Ball has not looked his destructive best in his three fights since winning his title. Ball took a lot of shots in his two stoppage wins over TJ Doheny and Ronny Rios, and was pushed to the wire against Sam Goodman in August.
“In all honesty, I just think he's boxed the same style that he always boxes,” Collins said of Ball’s recent showings. “The Ray Ford fight was close, and I don't think that he's changed much since then anyway. So that's all I can say on that.”
Tom Ivers is an amateur boxer who has a masters degree in sports journalism. He had his first bout in 2013, joined BoxingScene in 2024 and is now a key part of the UK and social media teams.
