Steve Collins

[Unforgiven]

What are people's thoughts on this fighter ?
I tend to think he gets shortchanged a bit when discussion of Eubank, Benn and Watson and the 1990s middles and super-middles arises.

In the UK he achieved brief fame and respect for beating Eubank and holding on to that version of the 168 title through 7 defences, but now he's become a bit of a footnote. Definitely, the wins over Benn are almost meaningless.

But what people forget, and what even at the time many viewers in the UK were unaware of, is that Collins only came to campaign in the UK after he'd been campaign up to the highest level in America, losing only to Mike McCallum and Reggie Johnson, and to Sumbu Kalambay in Italy.

He tried twice for the WBA middleweight against decent American fighters (excuse me Jamaicans, for calling McCallum American) then ended up coming to the UK and scooping two WBO titles (at middle - from Chris Pyatt, then against Eubank for the super-middle) in BACK-TO-BACK FIGHTS.
And while Eubank may have been past his best, Collins was a bit of a veteran too.

Ironically, Steve Collins pulled out of his last scheduled defence late and announced he was retiring because he just couldn't get motivated enough against his unprestigious opponent, who's name is JOE CALZAGHE.

[turpinr]

What are people's thoughts on this fighter ?
I tend to think he gets shortchanged a bit when discussion of Eubank, Benn and Watson and the 1990s middles and super-middles arises.

In the UK he achieved brief fame and respect for beating Eubank and holding on to that version of the 168 title through 7 defences, but now he's become a bit of a footnote. Definitely, the wins over Benn are almost meaningless.

But what people forget, and what even at the time many viewers in the UK were unaware of, is that Collins only came to campaign in the UK after he'd been campaign up to the highest level in America, losing only to Mike McCallum and Reggie Johnson, and to Sumbu Kalambay in Italy.

He tried twice for the WBA middleweight against decent American fighters (excuse me Jamaicans, for calling McCallum American) then ended up coming to the UK and scooping two WBO titles (at middle - from Chris Pyatt, then against Eubank for the super-middle) in BACK-TO-BACK FIGHTS.
And while Eubank may have been past his best, Collins was a bit of a veteran too.

Ironically, Steve Collins pulled out of his last scheduled defence late and announced he was retiring because he just couldn't get motivated enough against his unprestigious opponent, who's name is JOE CALZAGHE.collins definitely deserves to rated up there with benn and eubank.
i thought he was fortunate to get the nod over eubank in their first fight imo he didn't knock eubank down who in turn put collins down only for it to be called a slip

losses to mccallum,kalumbay and reggie johnson are no disgrace taking into account how good they were

there were rumours going round before the calzaghe fight that wasn't that he'd been put on his arse a few times in sparring.

[lefthook31]

He was a good fighter and I also think he should be up there with Benn and Eubank. I dont think he was underated but I thought he was a bit overated in the 90's "during the whole Roy Jones sweepstakes". I thought Jones would easily handle him, he was too slow, and a lot of people accused Jones of ducking him.

[Mantequilla]

He was a very good fighter imo, a sort of lower level Gene fullmer.Ugly sloppy style, but could box or brawl well, threw loads of punches, strong as hell and durable.

Did well against McCallum once he changed his tactics from sticking and moving to walking Mike down.McCallum had a huge round in the middle of the fight that would have fnished a lot of fighters, but Collins actually got right into the fight after it.A clear loss, but an honourable one for a young fighter.

The Johnson fight i thought was very close.Been a while since i watched it however.


Kalambay loss was an odd one, as Collins was probably at his best as far as the combo between physical ability and experience goes, while Kalambay looked a near shot fighter in some of his previous euro title defences.You would have expected Collins aggression and workrate to be far too much at this stage, but i thought he was lucky if he edged 4 rounds and ended up hitting air all night.

I watched the Eubank fights a few days ago and scored the first for Eubank by four points. I don't know if i would call it a robbery, as a lot of the rounds were tight and hard to score.I didn't give Collins a 10-8 round for the inconsequential knockdown he scored, and Eubank getting four points from the last three rounds sealed it for me.

[turpinr]

He was a very good fighter imo, a sort of lower level Gene fullmer.Ugly sloppy style, but could box or brawl well, threw loads of punches, strong as hell and durable.

Did well against McCallum once he changed his tactics from sticking and moving to walking Mike down.McCallum had a huge round in the middle of the fight that would have fnished a lot of fighters, but Collins actually got right into the fight after it.A clear loss, but an honourable one for a young fighter.

The Johnson fight i thought was very close.Been a while since i watched it however.


Kalambay loss was an odd one, as Collins was probably at his best as far as the combo between physical ability and experience goes, while Kalambay looked a near shot fighter in some of his previous euro title defences.You would have expected Collins aggression and workrate to be far too much at this stage, but i thought he was lucky if he edged 4 rounds and ended up hitting air all night.

I watched the Eubank fights a few days ago and scored the first for Eubank by four points. I don't know if i would call it a robbery, as a lot of the rounds were tight and hard to score.I didn't give Collins a 10-8 round for the inconsequential knockdown he scored, and Eubank getting four points from the last three rounds sealed it for me.eubank,up till that fight had been given some dodgy decisions so i think his luck just ran out

[Mantequilla]

yeah, it was certainly the kind of fight he had been given over and over previously.

Eubank was king of the close decision win, thoguh the only outright gift he got was against Schommer imo.Ironically maybe the worst fighter he defended against.

[Flea Man]

Eastman apparently sparred him (and Eubank) in sparring

Overrated IMO got Benn/Eubank whenn they past it

[turpinr]

Eastman apparently sparred him (and Eubank) in sparring

Overrated IMO got Benn/Eubank whenn they past itbenn had gone.he had nowt after mcclellan did he ??

[Flea Man]

Didn't want to hurt people I reckon. Mentally gone more than anything

[cotto20]

I think collins is one of the most over rated fighters of the 90's! made his name beating a old eubank, by the the way i had eubank beating him by 2 rounds in the first fight, and beating a washed up nigel benn. Every time collins faced a fighter who wasnt over the hill he got beat! mccallum and johnson both boxed the ears of him, to be fair he showed great heart in both fights, even a just past his prime kalambay beat him. Also he avoided joe calzaghe, he was happy to beat up on old fighters but he wanted nothing to do with a fresh hungry lion like calzaghe. I dont think he would of lived with a prime watson, benn or eubank, he would of got a beating of all 3 of them. Also heard that back in the early 90's he really avoided herol graham, and avoided graham when he made a comeback aswel. Any one else heard that?

[p.falk]

I think collins is one of the most over rated fighters of the 90's! made his name beating a old eubank, by the the way i had eubank beating him by 2 rounds in the first fight, and beating a washed up nigel benn. Every time collins faced a fighter who wasnt over the hill he got beat! mccallum and johnson both boxed the ears of him, to be fair he showed great heart in both fights, even a just past his prime kalambay beat him. Also he avoided joe calzaghe, he was happy to beat up on old fighters but he wanted nothing to do with a fresh hungry lion like calzaghe. I dont think he would of lived with a prime watson, benn or eubank, he would of got a beating of all 3 of them. Also heard that back in the early 90's he really avoided herol graham, and avoided graham when he made a comeback aswel. Any one else heard that?

Not this.

[atberry]

It's strange seeing Collins throwing sharp combinations against Kalambay and short counters against Johnson, and circling McCallum! For those who only first watched him against Eubank and thereafter...

I was a big boxing follower but hadn't seen Collins fight until Pyatt, who he was three weights bigger than.

He boxes on the move for 12 rounds in his US title defense!

In the UK/Ireland against Eubank the second time and the rest of the world title defenses, he was just a marauding warrior with shit technique and poor speed.

[The Funny Man 7]

I heard he encountered health problems training for Calzaghe, i.e. dizzy spells, fainting, and insonmia, similar to Zack Padillia's sudden health problem and subsequent retirement.

[Vantage_West]

fantastic bump

[Vantage_West]

It's strange seeing Collins throwing sharp combinations against Kalambay and short counters against Johnson, and circling McCallum! For those who only first watched him against Eubank and thereafter...

I was a big boxing follower but hadn't seen Collins fight until Pyatt, who he was three weights bigger than.

He boxes on the move for 12 rounds in his US title defense!

In the UK/Ireland against Eubank the second time and the rest of the world title defenses, he was just a marauding warrior with shit technique and poor speed.
yeah but i think he got to the point that he was trying to outwork his man. most of men where older and not workrate based fighters.

i think he is pretty tight defensively, even when he throws big right hands he seems to get his body out of the way of the line of fire and be ready to throw a left hook. he is the brawler who learned to box.


good champion. but wasnt the fighter he was in his youth.

[johnmaff36]

I think Collins should be cut some slack here. Ok, he lost to 3 pretty good fighters, all title fights. Right after the Kalambay loss, he wins his next 15 fights, 9 of which are title fights, then retired. Not bad at all in my book. Dont think Eubank could complain about his loss. Tight,yes, but i thought Collins shaded it although i wouldnt argue with anyone over it. Seen Eubank beat by Close and not getting the decision in scotland, so swings and roundabouts and all that.

As for the health problems, i cant vouch for the validity but ive heard (like many others on here) that Eastman knocked him clean out in sparring

[atberry]

Collins sparred Eastman in '99 (at the Lennox Lewis gym in London) preparing for the Roy Jones fight, and according to all involved Eastman landed a nothing-shot on the top of Steve's head with an 18oz glove in the first 30 seconds and Collins collapsed dramatically. Jimmy Tibbs and Ronnie Davies, who were supervising, called the ambulance service right away and Steve went to hospital. They were said to be petrified (those two were ringside when Michael Watson was injured..).

[atberry]

Collins then cancelled the comeback against Jones....

[PowerPuncher]

Collins is an underrated technical boxer and counter puncher and he was good but he got a shot Benn (shadow on brain, damaged kidneys) and a past prime Eubank who was still good. Eubank also has a good shout for 1 of those decisions

Collins sparred Eastman in '99 (at the Lennox Lewis gym in London) preparing for the Roy Jones fight, and according to all involved Eastman landed a nothing-shot on the top of Steve's head with an 18oz glove in the first 30 seconds and Collins collapsed dramatically. Jimmy Tibbs and Ronnie Davies, who were supervising, called the ambulance service right away and Steve went to hospital. They were said to be petrified (those two were ringside when Michael Watson was injured..).

This did happen, but wasn't it meant to be Collins-Calzaghe and then the winner fights Jones? That's what I read. When Jones wanted to go head to head with Collins after a HBO fight to promote their prospective fight, HBO wouldn't let Collins in the picture and they demanded he fought Reggie Johnson instead

[atberry]

At first yeah, and then it was agreed on Collins-Jones straight off the bat because Collins said he didn't need a warm-up and Jones wanted out of boxing (said he'd retire after Collins fight).





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[PowerPuncher]

At first yeah, and then it was agreed on Collins-Jones straight off the bat because Collins said he didn't need a warm-up and Jones wanted out of boxing (said he'd retire after Collins fight).





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I think Collins was just looking to cash out then, which would make sense, no way would RJJ retire, he says allot of things, maybe he was trying to get leverage by saying he was retiring. I'm wondering if Collins-Jones was actually agreed, Jones invites him to be ringside, Collins starts a training camp for RJJ and gets knocked out badly by Eastman but I remember HBO did prefer Reggie J over Collins. It's funny because he had an iron chin throughout his career

[crippet]

Benn may of been over the hill when he fought Collins 0 but Collins jsut wanted to tough it out with him - Collins took some amazing shots off Benn and didnt budge.
This would have been very close had they both been in their primes

[atberry]

I think Collins was just looking to cash out then, which would make sense, no way would RJJ retire, he says allot of things, maybe he was trying to get leverage by saying he was retiring. I'm wondering if Collins-Jones was actually agreed, Jones invites him to be ringside, Collins starts a training camp for RJJ and gets knocked out badly by Eastman but I remember HBO did prefer Reggie J over Collins. It's funny because he had an iron chin throughout his career

Jones didn't invite him.

Collins was abit delusional, genuinely thinking he would beat Jones ( :lol: ).

[Saintpat]

He returned to his native land just about the time the WBO was handing out belts to folks who could generate money more than those most deserving.

In his fights against true world-class fighters in or around their primes (including Kalumbay), he was game but outclassed.

When he got in with the over-the-hill gang of Eubank and Benn and some guys with nicely padded records for easy WBO defenses, well, what do you expect.

Tough guy. I liked him. Just not a world-beater in my opinion.