Steve Collins Interview – ”With Roy Jones It’s Unfinished Business”

By Boxing News - 02/23/2016 - Comments

collins2By Cathal Jennings – Recently I caught up with Ireland’s most successful professional Boxer Steve Collins. See what the former 2x World Champion had to say about facing the winner of Chris Eubank/Nigel Benn, A potential fight with Roy Jones Jr, His views on Middleweight king Gennady Golovkin and the current state of Irish Boxing.

CJ: Without any World Champions, What do you think of Irish Boxing at the moment and where it is heading?

SC: I think Irish Boxing has never had so many great fighters and has never been in such a good place in the history of Irish Boxing. There are so many good fighters out there with the likes of the Hyland’s, Ormond’s, Keeler’s and O Sullivan’s and that’s just in my brother’s gym (Celtic Warriors). The problem now is that we have great fighters but we don’t have the big name promoter’s in Ireland to promote them. Before we had Barney Eastwood who brought a lot of guy’s on, then a lot of guys went abroad and fought with (Barry) Hearn and (Frank) Warren. Right now we have a lot of Irish fighter’s that are based in Ireland but due to unforeseen circumstances recently professional Boxing in Ireland has been setback. In regards the fighter’s we have plenty of talent we just lack the promoter’s.

CJ: How far do you think Irish Boxing has been setback after what happened at The Regency Hotel?

SC: I have been informed that the Boxing Union of Ireland has banned all professional Boxing events in Ireland for the next 6 months. If that is the case then that is going to affect Boxing big time, It means fighters are going to have to go abroad so they can forward their careers.

CJ: What do you think of the job your Brother Paschal has done at the Celtic Warriors Gym?

SC: I think the Celtic Warriors is the best thing that’s happened to Boxing in Ireland. Not just because he’s my brother, Paschal is a great coach, he’s got a professional career behind him raised on both sides of the Atlantic. He’s got contacts on both sides of the Atlantic so therefore the fighter’s under his control will be moved in Britain and America so they can showcase their talent.

CJ: Gary ‘Spike’ O’ Sullivan recently came up short against Chris Eubank JR, what do you think will be the next step for Gary?

SC: After being stopped by Eubank he’s going to get a lot of offers from guys thinking he’s a shot fighter. But I think they will be surprised because he’s not, his next fight is going to be a very important fight if it’s against a big name and he wins then he would’ve proved it was just a hiccup. If it’s against a name that’s not so big and he doesn’t perform then there will be questions asked about him.

CJ: There has been a lot of speculation that Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn could face off once again, what do you think of that situation?

SC: I think it’s great and I would love to fight the winner.

CJ: Chris recently said on Irish television that if a fight came up with you he would be interested in the fight, would you be interested in fighting him?

SC: First of all I don’t believe a word that comes out of Chris Eubank’s mouth he’s very loose with the truth but of course I’d love to fight the winner of that fight (Eubank/Benn) it’s easy money for me. I think it’s great what their doing I would gladly take them on.

CJ: A fight with Roy Jones Jr was mentioned a couple of years ago, How come that fight didn’t happen or is it a fight that could still happen?

SC: I’ve nothing but respect for Roy Jones, personally we get on very well I would call us friends. In Boxing I have nothing but respect for him he was a hell of a fighter. It’s a fight that could’ve happened, should’ve happened and that could still happen I told everybody how I was going to beat Roy Jones and how Jones could be beaten. But Enzo Maccarinelli got in there before me so I don’t know if he’s taken the shine off the fight or not he probably has. It’s up to Roy Jones it always has been up to Roy Jones and it still is up to Roy Jones, it’s his decision. I’ve always wanted the fight and even at this stage of our lives I would still have it but I can’t make him do something he doesn’t wish to do.

CJ: You sound like you would like to get back in the ring.

SC: I’ve no interest in making a comeback. I’m always in shape, I live clean I look and I after myself. I had a great career I achieved a lot more than I anticipated I worked very hard for my success. The Roy Jones fight is a fight that should have happened 20 years ago it hasn’t happened it’s the only fight I wanted. When I couldn’t get that fight I retired because nothing appealed to me but I still fancy that one (Roy Jones fight). It’s unfinished business.

CJ: What was your greatest performance your greatest night in Boxing?

SC: My greatest fight and my best performance of my career, was against Chris Eubank. For year’s people wouldn’t give me a chance they wouldn’t let me break in to their little clik because they knew I was good enough to beat them. They kept me out as long as they could but I got a phone call one day and I was asked would I step in to fight Chris Eubank, that phone call was my big break. It was my opportunity to prove what I said for years that I was the best in the World in my weight division.

CJ: You where the number 1 Middleweight in your time, Gennady Golovkin is now number 1 what do you think of him?

SC: I think he’s a very clever fighter he does everything right. I would love to have a fighter in against him I’d love to be in the corner of a fighter fighting him. My great ability throughout my career was I could always read opponent’s and pick out their weaknesses, I have seen Golovkin I know how to beat him I just wish I had the fighter that could carry it out. It wouldn’t have to be anyone special all it takes is a fighter that follows instructions. it’s a very simple way to fight Golovkin and it wouldn’t be hard to beat him if you planned the fight properly. Nobody has cracked it yet but I know how to do it. He’s the greatest out there he keeps it simple and does everything right. He’s brought up the level of Middleweight Boxing.

CJ: How would you like people to remember Steve Collins the fighter?

SC: Gave 100%, never quit and earned it. I was very proud of the support of the recognition I got from both Britain, Ireland and the United States. I loved that I got the opportunity to Box in 3 great countries. They are part of who we are if we don’t have relatives in Britain we have relatives in America we’re all divided 3 ways I’m just glad I got the chance to represent Ireland in those 3 nations.

@14Cathal



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