Considering Sumbu was perhaps the most skilful fighter out there outboxing Mike McCallum and Herol Graham, with the slickest defense possibly I've seen (and I include Mayweather in that). For me, Kalambay was better than Mayweather is and this fight is just a better Calzaghe-Hopkins. I didn't expect Collins to look so good here, as I didn't expect him to look so good against Reggie Johnson (one of the best technicians out there and slick as a greaseball back then) with his counter-punching. Only recently seen these back-to-back losses of Collins' and he was unlucky with both decisions.... While celebrity Nigel Benn was in Italy preparing to face the very ordinary, highly limited spoiler Mauro Galvano (who would quit on his stool with a cut) for the famous WBC belt in front of 10 million viewers.... little-known Collins was in Italy taking on a true master boxer over 12 rounds for an EBU title, only televised in Italy, and hard done-by. The irony... [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vOebmL1Nc5o[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPhaIsW_PX4[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dchpqPEkLAU[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0TlxIuenek[/ame]
I think you maybe overrating Kalambay and Reggie Johnson just a tad bit. Steve did relatively well against Kalambay, but don't forget Sumbu was past his prime and enjoying life at that point. That certainly wasn't the Kalambay who beat a unsually very inactive McCallum.
Collins fought well and was at his best circa Johnson and sumbu, but kalambay won this clearly(8-4 if you REALLY favour workrate and hitting nothig but shoulders and arms)) and put a clinic in defence and counterpunching on Collins.Completely took the play away from Collins circa 3rd (after controlling him with some great defensive work early) with uppercuts and bodyshots. No coincidence that one of the few rounds i thought Collins took was the last, where Kalambay took his foot off the gas and just used his movement to see the fight out. This was a great "old man" performance against a good fighter in his prime.
Quite amazing that Collins hasn't fought since this, watching it now... [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEKGuCJ1iZA[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxX5iN6NLbI[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PN1BZo9Gcrg[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJwHPn4YF00[/ame] [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TuefHeK1OM[/ame]
