Does anyone know what happened to George and Tony Collins who were part of the Frank ****** stable about 20 or so years ago ? They both retired in their early twenties . I used to enjoy watching them on ITV's Seconds Out show. Tony in particular was often in exciting fights while George was a bit of an under achieving golden boy. Tony's fight with Wally Swift Jnr was an absolute classic.
Didn't Tony Collins once run and bounce off the ropes like a wrestler, during a fight!? Apparently he stood Eubank on his head in sparring in May '88, Tony. Fish Eyes killed George's talent by milking him and giving him 35 fights against nobodies before stepping up.
To play Devils Advocate, VVarren had to be carefull for the first couple of years of Georges career because the boxer had been given special dispensation by the BBBofC to turn pro early (you had to be eighteen) and if Collins had of got banjoed by an tough old pro while he was 17-19 years old there would have been hell to pay. Probably Del Byran and Tony Brown are his 2 best wins before reality struck in the shape of Gary Jacobs.
The Jacobs fight was rasor thin I think....but Laing really nailed the coffin lid shut. Fancy losing your first pro fight and then being put staight in with Kirkland for a "confidence builder"
Yep, I've seen that fight a few times. Collins was game enough but Laing was def. having one of his "in the mood" days and took him apart. It was like Frankie just gave up on Collins after the Jabobs fight.
Yep, Jacobs generally only lost to decent fighters (I'm assuming thats what the "shop egg" comment means?);-)
They were entertaining lads the Collins brothers. I think there was a 3rd brother called Benny or have I got this wrong? I was rooting for George against Gary Jacobs. Those were the days. Really good scrap.