Not too sure about this one. Nunn was crafty and slick but that is all. Collins, the man was tough as teak and would brawl all night as well as box. Nunn on points would be the obvious choice, but i for one would not rule out Collins giving him a beatdown from rd9 onwards and stopping him late.
At 160 I think that Nunn wins clearly, especially the Nunn of the Tate fight and in that area. Nunn peaked there in my opinion. Collins, on the other hand, really hit his stride at 168.
This. The 160 is the big difference — Nunn was a tough out for anyone at that weight and I don’t think Collins had filled out nor reached his peak yet. I went with Nunn by stoppage (late TKO imo) although a UD is probably the wiser choice.
I don’t know how we could ascertain that — his best opposition at 160 (who all beat him) weren’t big punchers. So who knows what would happen at that weight if he faced a big puncher. Nunn had average power … but still iced Kalumbay (who beat Collins) with one shot. If those two had never fought and we made a fantasy matchup and I said Nunn KO 1, you would laugh. Same as if Buster Douglas had never fought Tyson and we pondered how it would go … who would be picking Douglas (by dominant stoppage no less)? If fights were always won by the ‘obvious’ winner in the ‘obvious’ fashion, it would be a much less interesting sport. And there’s lots of ways to stop someone — cuts, wearing them down and pouring it on to the point that the ref steps in, etc. Heck, Steve got put down with a body shot at 160 in one of his fights (not that Nunn was a big body puncher, but it’s still a weakness). I said decision was the wiser choice, that’s what the odds and the pundits would say … but that doesn’t mean if the fight actually happened that Collins might not actually be stopped. Just as Kalumbay was.
Probably Nunn at 160. A shaky vote because I don't think he gets himself 100% for the guy. And a B game effort can lose the fight in a bout. Also think Nunn at 100% can very possibly get the upset ko like he did against Parker and Kalambay. Shame Nunn could never get the name fighters of the past to fight him. So many times a guy's reputation is based on getting a big win over a Benetiz or a Hearns or a Duran. What I really wanted to see was Leonard fighting him > the Hagler win. Or Marvin not retiring and fighting the guy. I don't think a Benn or Eubank win--very winnable for Nunn-- would have mattered a whole lot because the sport was dominated back then by american media and american perceptions. Not so easy when a guy does not get the optimal matches in high profile bouts. But America Presents was not the powerhouse they became later on & the sport has been one of connections for decades. But at 168 I love Collins to get the W. He was a hard night's work and that weight suited him better. Those Eubank and Benn fights are still entertaining to watch now and were big profile bouts back then. And he got the W. One of the unsung efforts seldom mentioned and appreciated is when Collins got the win over the undefeated Eubank. What a nice fight to watch from time to time and Collins came through with a Turpin over Robinson type effort that night. Great to watch and appreciate.