Updated 14.40
EIGHTEEN YEARS AGO Steve Collins Junior sat in his friend James’ house while his family were away watching his Dad fight Chris Eubank. That night, at the age of five, was his first boxing memory.
Tonight he begins his own journey when he makes his professional debut against Stanislavs Makarenko in Dundalk.
Since his school days Steve has predominantly played rugby representing Castleknock, London Wasps and Lansdowne. He played hooker for the Lansdowne team that won the AIL last year, but has since turned his attentions to boxing.
“I went over to England for trials after I left school and I ended up over at London Wasps and they wanted me to stay but I wasn’t getting paid so I came home. I’ve played with Lansdowne ever since, we were successful last year winning the AIL. I still play rugby but my main focus now would be on my boxing.”
He’s weighed in at 88kg for the fight, an amazing figure considering he was 102kg at the peak of his rugby career. The primary crossover between the two sports has been the fitness, but the competitive nature of both is an added bonus.
Collins Junior has only fought a handful of amateur fights but it’s not something he’s worried about as he prepares for Makarenko.
“Amateur is more like fencing, it’s a lot about speed and tagging your opponent and getting points for it. Pro boxing you go in and its more of a battle, you exchange a lot more shots and a lot more heavy blows and your trying to go in and be dominant, be the aggressor, be the better fighter.
“I’d say I am too small, I’m only six foot, a lot of the cruiserweights would be big tall guys with long jabs. I’ve got short arms and I’m a small stocky guy and I throw hooks and uppercuts so it suits me more then the straight punching amateur game.”
Collins in action for Lansdowne last season (©INPHO/Cathal Noonan)
There are echos of Mexican boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Junior who only fought two amateur bouts before turning pro and then becoming world champion. But Collins Junior is taking it slowly and is looking to build some momentum and create a name for himself.
“This is a long term thing, I need to see how my first few fights go, I need to make noise, I need to be an entertaining fighter, I need to sell tickets, I need people talking about me – I can’t go saying I’m going to be world champion because I haven’t fought, so I just want to go out there get a few fights under my belt and take it from there.”
Collins trains in the Celtic Warrior gym in Corduff under the stewardship of his Uncle Paschal, who himself was a professional fighter. Add to that his father and his other uncle Roddy and you can see why there is a burden of expectation on the young man.
It’s a lot of pressure to be honest, I have my father’s name to live up and it’s kind of a shadow over me the whole time. Also my uncle Paschal was a pro boxer and my other uncle Roddy was a footballer. After the success all them guys have had it’s put a bit of pressure on me to succeed and do well in sport.
After tonight, and hopefully with a victory under his belt, he will travel to London to fight on the undercard of the Billy Joe Saunders versus Gary ‘Spike’ O’Sullivan bout on Saturday week. The fights are coming thick and fast, but it’s just what he needs.
“It just happens that Gary is one of my uncle’s fighters. Because he’s getting the show I was lucky to get on the card. I was offered the opportunity and I just went for it.”
One man he has always idolized is the late great Joe Frazier. Achieving even a percentage of what he did in his iconic career would be a dream for Collins.
“I like to copy Joe because I’m almost like a small heavyweight like he was and I’m awkward and I like to throw uppercuts and hooks like he does and stay close to your chest.
I’d like to say I’m like him but obviously I’m not as good as him, I haven’t even fought yet! I like to imitate him when I’m training in the gym.
If he can perform with the power and bravery that Frazier displayed during his career, then tonight might just be the start of something very special.
– Originally posted 7.45am
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