How do you rate Steve Collins?

Neverchair · 05-01-2010, 05:32 PM

I've got to admit, I've not seen tons of his fights but apart from beating Eubank & Benn at the end of their careers, his resume doesn't look fantastic to me.

What are your thoughts?

paddycfc · 05-01-2010, 05:34 PM

he was ma favorite fighter he was class imo he was a true warrior

GazOC · 05-01-2010, 05:36 PM

Tough guy, tight defense with a great chin but I think he got to Benn and (esp. Eubank) at the right time in their careers.

ed7890 · 05-01-2010, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GazOC

Tough guy, tight defense with a great chin but I think he got to Benn and (esp. Eubank) at the right time in their careers.

Really? I would have had it the other way. Benn didn't have much left but it was a good version of Eubank

Boro chris · 05-01-2010, 05:43 PM

He beat Kevin 'Killer' Watts and Toney Thornton I believe. Anyone ever see those fights? I remember reading in KO magazine back in the 80's that Collins got off the deck to beat Watts.

Boro chris · 05-01-2010, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ed7890

Really? I would have had it the other way. Benn didn't have much left but it was a good version of Eubank

Yeah Benn was totally gone but Eubank still had a bit left in the tank.

GazOC · 05-01-2010, 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ed7890

Really? I would have had it the other way. Benn didn't have much left but it was a good version of Eubank

I meant for styles I've always thought you could make a case for prime Collins beating prime Benn (I'd take Benn though) but I'd have taken prime Eubank over Collins every time.

atberry · 05-01-2010, 05:48 PM

Tony Thornton was top quality, though it looked like Steve lost and he was a big underdog, too. (Almost lost his ear that night!)

He took the McCallum fight at short notice as a 16-fight novice, and didn't disgrace himself after five rounds of anxiety (even had McCallum running away in the last rounds).

Reggie Johnson was as slick as a greaseball back then and it looked like Collins won.

Sumbu Kalambay made him look silly with his defence, but Steve outworked him and could've got the decision.

He'd been close to retiring after the Johnson fight.

He sort of went un-noticed under Eastwood and Hearn until outboxing and knocking out Chris Pyatt.

Then the Eubank thing with the hypnotism ofcourse... I thought he lost that fight clearly, though.

The 2nd Eubank fight saw Collins win 11 out of 12 rounds in my opinion, but with the messiest, most unskilled swarming style I have ever seen. Eubank suddenly looked shot that night, more likely weight-drained.

Collins kept that horrible marauding style for the rest of his career, that included two wins over a genuinely physically shot Benn, who quit both times while holding his own.

Collins was at his best against Pyatt and Eubank the 1st time, making less mistakes than in his younger days. But he showed his snappiest boxing and most movement against Tony Thornton and Kevin Watts in the 80s.

That terrible-looking maraud style seemed highly effective result-wise, winning 11 out of 12 rounds against pre-retirement Eubank and stopping Benn back-to-back, but I genuinely think Eubank that night and Benn on those nights were both at their worst-ever physically. I honestly don't think Collins was very good at that time.

warrior85 · 05-01-2010, 05:50 PM

below benn & eubank(regardless of their fights)

barry big balls · 05-01-2010, 05:55 PM

As kid i thought he was great beating englands finest super middles benn and eubank but i am to young to remember seeing him get outclassed by mike mccallum.I since seen that fight and realised steve was limited in a few ways but really only the elite boxers like mccallum could do this to steve. If you were anything less than elite steve usually broke your heart with his granite chin and crazy work ethic. One of irelands best pros for me...

atberry · 05-01-2010, 06:03 PM

The thing that stands out most about Collins for me was taking Benn's left hooks without blinking an eyelid.

McCallum's bodyshots didn't slow him down.

Reggie Johnson hit him with everything and couldn't get him over.

Just a tough tough man and top level operator.

NO MAS · 05-01-2010, 06:07 PM