George and Tony Collins.....

Discussion in 'British Boxing Forum' started by Lionel Rose, Apr 19, 2009.


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  1. Lionel Rose

    Lionel Rose Guest

    ......whatever happened to????

    Both quality operators, I think both underachieved.

    Are they still involved in the sport in any way?
     
    Lionel Rose, Apr 19, 2009
    Lionel Rose, Apr 19, 2009
    #1
  2. Boro chris

    Boro chris Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Don't think George fought again after a points loss to Gary Jacobs and a 5 rounds thrashing by Kirkland Laing. Tony was the commonwealth Light middle champ. Had a nice left hook but I don't think he got beyond that level.
     
    Boro chris, Apr 19, 2009
    Boro chris, Apr 19, 2009
    #2
  3. Lionel Rose

    Lionel Rose Guest

    Yeah, I think George was bunged in at the deep end far too early in his career.
    The polar opposite of what they're doing with Khan, in fact!
     
    Lionel Rose, Apr 19, 2009
    Lionel Rose, Apr 19, 2009
    #3
  4. GazOC

    GazOC Guest Star for Team Taff Full Member

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    If you arn't good enough after 33 fights then you just arn't good enough.
     
    GazOC, Apr 19, 2009
    GazOC, Apr 19, 2009
    #4
  5. Lionel Rose

    Lionel Rose Guest


    I absolutely disagree.

    Being fed the best part of 30 stiffs while you should be learning your trade (with the possible exception of Del Bryan) teaches you absolutely nothing.

    Conversely, throwing the lad in with seasoned pro's like Jacobs and Laing when barely out of his teens was commercially wreckless and unforgivable.

    A promising career was wiped out with those two idiotic pieces of matchmaking.:-(
     
    Lionel Rose, Apr 19, 2009
    Lionel Rose, Apr 19, 2009
    #5
  6. Claypole

    Claypole Boxing Addict banned

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    I remember George Collins' long unbeaten run, he was featured heavily on ITV's "Seconds Out" boxing program (Tuesday nights after the news at ten).

    That was always a good show if i remember rightly.
     
    Claypole, Apr 19, 2009
    Claypole, Apr 19, 2009
    #6
  7. GazOC

    GazOC Guest Star for Team Taff Full Member

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    The quality of the 30 opponents is a different issue to him being thrown in at the deep end against Jacobs. The BBBofC alllowed Collins to turn pro at 17 because he was supposed to be too good to stay as an amatuer, he had 33 fights and was not good enough to win a British title.


    I saw a lot of Collins' fights and he was never that good, he had a big rep from the amatuers but that was down to the fact that he was one of those kids who was a mature man at 17. Its not being wise after the fact but you could see a mile off he wasn't going to make it past Britsh level.
     
    GazOC, Apr 19, 2009
    GazOC, Apr 19, 2009
    #7
  8. Lionel Rose

    Lionel Rose Guest

    Maybe you're right.
    The mists of time COULD have clouded my judgement after all these years.
    I just remember being gutted at the time, seeing this (hyped?) youngster seemingly fed to the lions, at such an early part of his career.....
     
    Lionel Rose, Apr 19, 2009
    Lionel Rose, Apr 19, 2009
    #8
  9. GazOC

    GazOC Guest Star for Team Taff Full Member

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    I think its fair to say that the jump up from his 32nd fight (or whatever it was) to Jacobs was a big step but I don't think he'd have beaten Jacobs no matter how it was handled.

    Collins was a big strong lad with very decent basics but that about it, even against hand picked oppostion he got badly wobbled a few times.
     
    GazOC, Apr 19, 2009
    GazOC, Apr 19, 2009
    #9
  10. biglads

    biglads Climbing the WBO Rankings Full Member

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    George did a truly legendary 'chicken dance' against Laing. 5 or 6 steps bacwards on his insteps into the corner and down.
     
    biglads, Apr 19, 2009
    biglads, Apr 19, 2009
    #10
  11. AlFrancis

    AlFrancis Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    If I remember rightly he was knocked out in his last amateur fight by Gary Stretch I think he'd gone unbeaten in something like his previous 72 fights.
     
    AlFrancis, Apr 19, 2009
    AlFrancis, Apr 19, 2009
    #11
  12. riggers

    riggers Well-Known Member Full Member

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    Too good to stay amateur ........ he was done in 1 by Gary Stretch in his last amateur bout.

    George and Tony liked the HIGH life. Neither were that good. George had a great fight with Jacobs, but was managed carefully away from hitters like Mickey Hughes. Why, well we found out when Laing nailed him, and also when jacobs got to him in the 12th.

    Tony was a poor mans version of George.
     
    riggers, Apr 20, 2009
    riggers, Apr 20, 2009
    #12
  13. GazOC

    GazOC Guest Star for Team Taff Full Member

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    I know, ridiculous is it? They somehow managed to convince the BBBofC to let him turn pro early beause he was supposed to be THAT good....
     
    GazOC, Apr 20, 2009
    GazOC, Apr 20, 2009
    #13
  14. Lionel Rose

    Lionel Rose Guest

    Even some of the greats have been caught cold and flattened by 'lesser' fighters.

    The fact he got belted out in 1 by Gary Stretch doesn't in itself mean George was an inferior fighter.

    Anyone can have a 'bad day at the office.'

    Unfortunately, boxing by its' very nature is the most unforgiving of sports, and even the smallest of mistakes can spell disaster.
     
    Lionel Rose, Apr 20, 2009
    Lionel Rose, Apr 20, 2009
    #14
  15. GazOC

    GazOC Guest Star for Team Taff Full Member

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    Thats true, I'm not knocking the loss. Just that he was supposed to be too good to stay in the ams and yet he got flattened in his last fight in a vest. It doesn't really tally....
     
    GazOC, Apr 20, 2009
    GazOC, Apr 20, 2009
    #15
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