Steve Collins | BoxingScene Community

Steve Collins

I never see his name mentioned on here and it astounds me.. This is yet another Irish fighter who went to the states but WAS NOT JUST a crowd pleaser.. On the contrary in fact.. He was "World Class!" For many years he teamed up with the Petronelli brothers (Haglers management) This was long before Eubank or Benn had even turned pro.. During this time he ran up about 20 odd straight wins before dropping 2 close decisions to Reggie Johnson & Mike McCallum who were both "well seasoned" WC's at the time.. I specifically remember a press conference ( after a McCallum victory) when he was asked, "Who's the toughest man you've ever faced?" To which McCallum responded, "That man there" and pointed to Collins who was in the audience at the time.. Shortly after this, Collins returned to the UK & cleaned up by winning the WBO MW title from Chris Pyatt & then the WBO/WBC S/M titles from Eubank & Benn respectively, Giving them BOTH a rematch, & winning all FOUR.. Say what you want about the quality in America at the time, Roy Jones (who was the man) WOULD NOT FIGHT him, & that's why he retired.. Since then, things haven't been so good for him.. Last time I heard (fairly recently) he'd split up with his missus (Gemma) & moved into some army barracks in Shoeburyness, Essex, England & shacked up with a soldiers wife.. He's also had run in's with the law, most notably a road rage incident, during which a lorry driver who got KTFO.. All this aside, I want to hear how you guys rated this fighting Irishman, who won all but 2 and never even looked like getting KO'd.. (forget the Craig Cummings fight cos he was up quicker than he went down & then blitzt him) He also had the decency to say "Touch'e" immediately after KOing him.. Bring it on... Regards MM

Comments (19)

Southpaw16BF

I think Collins gets disrespected a lot. I mean its not like anyone is saying he was a great 168lbs fighter or anything. He was not the most cultured fighter, but he was a tough mofo. His Boxing skills were moderate. He could counter punch, but he was not exceptional at it. However he did effectively against Chris Eubank in their first fight. He went 12 tough rounds with Reggie Johnson. I believe Reggie Johnson could of beaten Eubank to personally. Ive seen Eubank struggle with lesser fighters than Johnson. Collins was inexperienced when he fought McCallum, but he and still gave a good account of himself. Im not saying he would of beaten McCallum, but look at the people Collins had to fight Kalambay and McCallum? two of the best technical fighters of that era. I would of put money on Eubank losing to Kalambay and McCallum. Kalambay give McCallum and Boxing lesson first time, then he he fought a very close rematch that could of given either way imo. Im not a big Collins fan or anything, but he does not get his props imo. You say Sumbu Kalambay gave McCallum a Boxing lesson the first time they met. I think this is way over the top and a bad statement . A boxing lesson would be what Pernell Whitaker give Jose Luiz Ramirez in the second bout, or what Muhhamed Ali give to Clevand Williams in 66. Kalambay may have won the fight, but it wasn't a ''Boxing Lesson''. And McCallum did have to go to Kalamaby's adopted home in Italy. The scores to the bout were Judge: Fernando Viso 115-116 Judge: Cesar Ramos 114-118 Judge: Rogelio Perez 114-115

17y ago

Dynamite_Kid

Collins chin was overrated though. I agree with that. He was down against Eubank and he was getting hammered against Johnson in the last 2/3 rounds. He was taking what Johnson was dishing out, but i think it would of been a matter of time before he got knocked out, if he continued to take those kinds of punches.

17y ago

Dynamite_Kid

17y ago

big_paulie

I always thought Collins was overrated, his technique seemed sloppy to me and his chin a little overrated, it wasn't granite but he had a good one, he was tough though. Not a bad fighter by any means but not that good either. I wouldnt necesseraly say overrated but agree that his style was untidy at times, i think if he had fought Benn and Eubank 6 years earlier the fights would have definitely been more interesting. As for fighting Jones, the ref would have had to save Collins.

17y ago

stefjonno1

He just met Benn and Eubank at the right time.

17y ago

mickey_malone

Thanks TheMachine. Yeah.. The Emerald Isle's produced some tough'ns over the years.. Must be something to do with their work ethic.. They built most of London, that's for sure.. As for Benn/Eubank being washed up... I would say that due to inferior fortitude, this was true.. But as I've already quoted, Collins was fighting "up there" when Benn/Eubank hadn't even established a water mark.. These answers were specifically for TBO & COTTO respectively.. Why the **** it hasn't printed like that is beyond me! But there again, computers have always made a right cunt out of me lol...

17y ago

Silencers

He was down in the first round of his last fight against Craig Cummins. McCallum stunned Collins a couple of times but never knocked him down. Collins was also knocked down by a body punch against Kevin Watts. Thanks TheMachine.

17y ago

cotto16

i remember u made a similar remark on mr. collins in a similar thread i started over @ boxing history... so hows ur head? still feeling saw? me head is really saw dude, still feel really lightheaded, am just going to take a week of training. Thanks for asking dude

17y ago

Technical_Skill

17y ago

TheGreatA

Against Eubank, yes. Hurt pretty badly too. Remember seeing him hurt in another fight, can't remember which one in particular right now (maybe the McCallum one) but I know he's been hurt more than once in his career. He was down in the first round of his last fight against Craig Cummins. McCallum stunned Collins a couple of times but never knocked him down. Collins was also knocked down by a body punch against Kevin Watts.

17y ago

Smash

Samarui, i cant see that as being correct. From what i can remember collins fought all comers and wanted jones at the end of his career. He then agreed to fight calzaghe in order to get the jones fight next, but was advised to retire by the doctors after he collapsed in training. He was bang at the end of his career then so thats the way it goes :alucard: Plus calzaghe was a nobody at that stage really

17y ago

S_A_M_U_R_A_I

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17y ago

Silencers

did he ever go down? Against Eubank, yes. Hurt pretty badly too. Remember seeing him hurt in another fight, can't remember which one in particular right now (maybe the McCallum one) but I know he's been hurt more than once in his career.

17y ago

Smash

I think he was up in court recently having smacked a bouncer who wouldnt let him in somewhere lol so hes still at it. I remember him being a very tough relentless type of fighter. Didnt freddie roach train him? Does any1 know how freddie has rated him? Very good fighter though :alucard: Just like to add, he was exactly the type of guy if you were a champ you did not like to see on the horizon. He was going to give you a hard fight, guaranteed

17y ago

talip_bin_osman

He had a cast iron chin! beat a washed up benn and eubank, fights against prime roy jones and a young hungry calzaghe couldnt be made, him and joe were ment to fight but collins pulled out, think he was haveing blackouts in the gym. I have never liked him as a fighter, and he has always come accross as a idiot outside the ring. i remember u made a similar remark on mr. collins in a similar thread i started over @ boxing history... so hows ur head? still feeling saw?

17y ago

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17y ago

he beats both benn & eubank, never been KOed & chased roy jones unsuccessfully... what with this irish fighters' chins? mccullough, ward, duddy, collins... tough, tough fighters these lads...

17y ago