I've never really watched any matches of this fighter. How good was he, exactly? From what I know, he was undefeated, a rising star and being built by Bob Arum to be a future star. How good were his boxing abilities before he had his career ended by those two sickening *******s Lewis/Resto?
Collins showed every evidence of being a comer. Even I was stunned with how Resto beat him up 'n busted him up in The Garden. Resto seemed no more than a journeyman to showcase Collins. I was ringside, and remembered Resto as a swarming fighter with a furious work rate (but not a puncher) to win titles in the N.Y. Golden Gloves. I had no idea about the gloves, as I watched it. Just thought Resto had improved his firepower as a pro.
Wasn't Collins on the undercard of Duran-Davey Moore? Although Collins was cheated against Resto, I think it showed his defence wasn't very good. If he'd say taken Duran instead of Resto, he'd have been knocked out and similarly ruined him imo I also think Collins becoming inactive and chasing the court settlement is partly what led to the alcoholism and suicide. People blame the Resto fight and Panama Lewis for Collins demise, but we all have control of our destiny despite knock backs we may suffer for whatever reason
Wrong. If he just got beat, maybe so. His eye and vision were permanently damaged, he could never safely box again. @TS - Billy Collins Jr. was an average fighter, had little defense. He would have been a journeyman himself. Still doesn't change that what happened is horrible though.
I thought the Resto docu implied they were looking for compo and he could fight again but was looking for the compo pay out
He would not have been able to pass a real, thorough medical to fight again. As the poster pointed out, it's a 'Resto' documentary and just because someone says that he could have fought again doesn't make it so -- he did suffer vision damage. I knew Billy Collins' father when I lived in Nashville in the later 1980s when I lived in Nashville. The man was a wreck, never stopped greiving. Resto and Panama should have been hung from the nearest tree for such a blatant and reckless disregard for the opponent and for the sport.
I remember thinking an ounce of padding wasn't that much. When you think about it, an ounce removed from the knuckle area is actually quite a bit. And over ten rounds a difference like that would be massive. You could see Collins swelling very early on.
I was watching one of Collins' early ESPN fights with someone who didn't know his credentials and wasn't versed in how matches were made. Collins, as my friend noted, had no physique to speak of and looked like he had never seen the sun. His opponent, some guy named "Rattlesnake Johnson" was ripped, no fat, and looked like he ate nails. He said that Rattlesnake would swallow Collins like a rat based on appearance and I told him otherwise. Of course, Collins blitzed the guy on technique in a couple of minutes of round one. Sort of belies the point though that I don't believe Collins had the innate athleticism to go all the way. He was well schooled and intelligent in the ring and probably maximized all his physical gifts. If he had beat Resto, I think he would've been a fringe contender who earned respect for his heart and ring smarts. I can't see him winning on the highest stage with the physical tools he had though.
Not so. I read that he actually was left wiith limited vision after the fight. he laso had extreme sensitivity to light as well, so he always had to wear sunglsses... It was criminal to say the least what they conspired to do to him.
I agree with this Arum was going to use him as a 'Product' to make a quick buck and sell tickets. I don't think Collins would have gone very far.
No reason to think he couldn't have gone as far as say, Colin Jones or someone on that level. Plenty of "non-athletic" fighters have gone far and won titles
