Steve Collins

For other people named Steve Collins, see Steve Collins (disambiguation).

Steve Collins
Collins in 2010
Statistics
Real name	Stephen Collins
Nickname(s)	Irish (former) Celtic Warrior
Rated at	Middleweight Super middleweight
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Reach	71 in (180 cm)
Nationality	Irish
Born	(1964-07-21) 21 July 1964 Cabra, Dublin, Ireland
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	39
Wins	36
Wins by KO	21
Losses	3

Stephen Collins (born 21 July 1964), more commonly known as Steve Collins, is an Irish former professional boxer. Known as "The Celtic Warrior", Collins is the most successful Irish boxer in professional boxing history, having held the WBO middleweight and super middleweight titles.

Collins began his professional career in the United States, winning regional middleweight and Irish middleweight titles. It was not until Collins reached his early his 30s that he fulfilled his potential. Having competed against the best boxers on both sides of the Atlantic, Collins tends to be linked more to an era in the UK during which there was a notable rivalry between British boxers Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn, both of whom he fought and defeated twice.

Early life

He was born the third of four sons in 1964. His uncle Jack O'Rourke was an Irish heavyweight champion in the 1960s and his father was a prize amateur fighter. Collins' first taste of the sport came with Corinthians Boxing Club in Dublin city centre. By the time he left Ireland at 21 he was an apprentice electrician at the Guinness Brewery.

Professional career

The Boston years

Steve Collins won 26 Irish titles as an amateur before turning professional in Massachusetts, US in October 1986. Collins worked out of the Petronelli Brothers gym in Brockton, Massachusetts alongside Marvin Hagler. His debut fight was against Julio Mercado on the undercard of a bill that featured Irish Americans; his future trainer Freddie Roach and the future Fight of the Year winner Micky Ward. Collins 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 No. 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. Collins was supported by a large crowd of Irish Americans as he battled the veteran champion, with the fight being close early on before McCallum started taking more and more control over the inexperienced Collins.

In 1992, Collins lost on points to Reggie Johnson in a closely contested slugfest for the vacant WBA middleweight title (which had been stripped from McCallum because he signed to fight IBF champion James Toney). Collins then lost 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.

WBO middleweight champion

Collins then moved to Belfast under the management of Barney Eastwood before basing 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 defence, moving up to super-middleweight to challenge Chris Eubank for the WBO title after Eubank's scheduled opponent Ray Close withdrew after failing a brain scan.

WBO super-middleweight champion

Collins defeated the previously unbeaten long-reigning champion Chris Eubank in Millstreet, County Cork, Ireland in March 1995 to win the WBO super-middleweight title. Collins had enlisted the help of well known guru Tony Quinn, and they led the press to believe that 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 wild, brawling tactics that 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 unexpectedly retired. 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. Collins is reported to have stated in Boxing World that he had spent so long chasing Roy Jones Jr that money was no longer important; that he would "fight him in a phone box in front of two men and a dog". but the bout never materialised. 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 to fight Jones. 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."

Controversy surrounded the fight, as it was rumoured that Collins would have to fight Calzaghe 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 a sparring session with Howard Eastman. Although tests and a brain scan didn't find any problems, he decided that it was a warning to make him stop boxing, and he retired for a second time.

Collins retired in 1997 with his then wife and children to the town of Bangor, County Down, with a record of: W 36 (21 KOs) – L 3.

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 sixth one voted off

He now lives in St Albans, England.

On 15 January 2013, at the age of 48, Collins announced plans to fight his longtime nemesis Roy Jones, Jr. and on 5 October, at 49 years old, he appeared in a three round exhibition against former welterweight pro Frank Harrington.

Professional boxing record

36 Wins (21 KOs), 3 Losses
Res.	Record	Opponent	Type	Round, Time	Date	Location	Notes
Win	36–3	Craig Cummings	TKO	3 (12), 1:17	1997–07–05	Kelvin Hall, Glasgow	Retained WBO super-middleweight title.
Win	35–3	Frederic Seillier	TKO	5 (12), 2:20	1997–02–08	New London Arena, London, Greater London	Retained WBO super-middleweight title.
Win	34–3	Nigel Benn	RTD	6 (12), 3:00	1996–11–09	NYNEX Arena, Manchester, Greater Manchester	Retained WBO super-middleweight title.
Win	33–3	Nigel Benn	TKO	4 (12), 2:44	1996–07–06	NYNEX Arena, Manchester, Greater Manchester	Retained WBO super-middleweight title.
Win	32–3	Neville Brown	TKO	11 (12), 0:54	1996–03–09	Green Glens Arena, Millstreet, Munster	Retained WBO super-middleweight title.
Win	31–3	Cornelius Carr	UD	12	1995–11–25	Point Theatre, Dublin, Leinster	Retained WBO super-middleweight title.
Win	30–3	Chris Eubank	SD	12	1995–09–09	Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork, Munster	Retained WBO super-middleweight title.
Win	29–3	Chris Eubank	UD	12	1995–03–18	Green Glens Arena, Millstreet, Munster	Won WBO super-middleweight title.
Win	28–3	Chris Pyatt	TKO	5 (12), 2:27	1994–05–11	Ponds Forge, Sheffield, South Yorkshire	Won WBO middleweight title.
Win	27–3	Paul Wesley	PTS	8	1994–02–09	International Centre, Brentwood, Essex
Win	26–3	Johnny Melfah	TKO	4 (8), ?	1994–01–22	King's Hall, Belfast
Win	25–3	Wayne Ellis	KO	9 (10), ?	1993–11–30	Cardiff, South Wales
Win	24–3	Gerhard Botes	TKO	7 (12), ?	1993–06–26	Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London, Greater London	Won vacant WBA Penta-Continental middleweight title.
Win	23–3	Ian Strudwick	TKO	7 (10), ?	1993–02–20	Earls Court Exhibition Centre, London, Greater London
Win	22–3	Johnny Melfah	TKO	3 (8), 2:48	1993–02–06	Cardiff, South Wales
Loss	21–3	Sumbu Kalambay	PTS	12	1992–10–22	Verbania, Piedmont, Italy	For European middleweight title.
Loss	21–2	Reggie Johnson	MD	12	1992–04–22	Meadowlands Arena, East Rutherford, New Jersey	For vacant WBA middleweight title.
Win	21–1	Dan Morgan	KO	3 (?), ?	1991–12–11	Dublin, Leinster
Win	20–1	Jean-Noel Camara	KO	3 (?), ?	1991–05–25	Brest, Brittany
Win	19–1	Kenny Snow	TKO	3 (?), ?	1991–05–11	Maysfield Leisure Centre, Belfast
Win	18–1	Eddie Hall	UD	10	1990–11–24	Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Win	17–1	Fermin Chirino	TKO	6 (10), ?	1990–08–16	Sheraton Hotel, Boston, Massachusetts
Loss	16–1	Mike McCallum	UD	12	1990–02–03	Hynes Convention Center, Boston, Massachusetts	For WBA middleweight title.
Win	16–0	Roberto Rosiles	TKO	9 (10), 0:52	1989–11–21	Showboat Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
Win	15–0	Tony Thornton	MD	12	1989–07–16	Harrah's Marina Resort, Atlantic City, New Jersey	Retained USBA middleweight title.
Win	14–0	Kevin Watts	UD	12	1989–05–09	Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey	Won USBA middleweight title.
Win	13–0	Paul McPeek	TKO	9 (10), ?	1989–02–07	Trump's Castle, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	12–0	Jesse Lanton	UD	8	1988–12–10	Salem Boys Club, Salem, New Hampshire
Win	11–0	Muhammad Shabazz	TKO	4 (10), ?	1988–10–22	Salem Boys Club, Salem, New Hampshire
Win	10–0	Michael Dale	UD	8	1988–07–30	Romuva Park, Brockton, Massachusetts
Win	9–0	Lester Yarbrough	UD	10	1988–05–26	Boston Park Plaza Hotel, Boston, Massachusetts
Win	8–0	Sam Storey	UD	10	1988–03–18	Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
Win	7–0	Bennie Sims	UD	8	1987–12–09	Harrah's Marina Resort, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	6–0	Mike Williams	UD	6	1987–11–20	Resorts International, Atlantic City, New Jersey
Win	5–0	Harold Souther	UD	8	1987–10–29	Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, Massachusetts
Win	4–0	Richard Holmes	KO	1 (?), ?	1987–10–10	Attleboro, Massachusetts
Win	3–0	Richard Holloway	KO	2 (4), ?	1986–12–20	Strand Theatre, Boston, Massachusetts
Win	2–0	Mike Bonislawski	UD	4	1986–11–26	Strand Theatre, Boston, Massachusetts
Win	1–0	Julio Mercado	KO	3 (4), 1:55	1986–10–24	Lowell Memorial Auditorium, Lowell, Massachusetts	Professional debut.

External links

• Official Website
• Professional boxing record for Steve Collins from BoxRec

Achievements
Preceded by Chris Pyatt	WBO Middleweight Champion May 11, 1994 – March 1995 Vacated	Vacant Title next held by Lonnie Bradley
Preceded by Chris Eubank	WBO Super Middleweight Champion March 18, 1995 – July 5, 1997 Retired	Vacant Title next held by Joe Calzaghe