Tony Collins

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 08 Sep 2006, 05:47

On the recent F. Warren questions and answers spot on the BBC, Frank was asked which boxer had he thought counld have made it but didn't.
Frank answered Tony Collins. he said he had it all but wasn't disciplined outside the ring.

Anyone know what Collins was like as a boxer? I can't remember seeing any of his fights, but i guess he must have been on TV when Warren was dealing with ITV in the eighties.

http://www.boxrec.com/boxer_display.php?boxer_id=25217

SticknMove · Post by **SticknMove** » 08 Sep 2006, 07:13

Tony, like his brother George, turned pro very young after having excellent junior amateur careers at domestic level. They won a lot national titles, but Tony was considered to be a better more talented prospect.

Tony turned pro under a similar fanfare and expectancy that met, for example, Kevin Mitchell. He was given exposure on t.v. in a lot of his early fights on the undercards of big bills. To be honest I didn't take a lot notice of him at the time, as I already knew he was a good prospect being fed fodder and was waiting to see him when he made the step up.

I dont really know what happened to him after that, but it's clear looking at his record that the wheels came off and he didn't reach his full potential.

Personally I think he may well have turned pro too early and was pushed on too quickly. Fighting Wally Swift jr., (a good solid pro) and Andy Till (tough as nails hardman) at a relatively young age may have exposed his limitations.

But Warren said he had a lack a discipline outside the ring which would explain a lot. I did hear that he was getting involved in a lot fights in local bars, whether this is true or not I dont know.

John Dillinger · Post by **John Dillinger** » 08 Sep 2006, 07:30

Remember him getting an absolute gift of a decision against some rock hard Argentinian.

Was a regular fighter on Midweek Sports Special.

SticknMove · Post by **SticknMove** » 08 Sep 2006, 08:07

mercman wrote:I remember both Tony and George Collins and seem to recall there was a third brother too. Is that right? If so can anyone remember who it was?

Almost forgot, there was third younger brother who was also a useful junior. I think his name was Ben.

THEBUTCH · Post by **THEBUTCH** » 08 Sep 2006, 08:19

Tony was very good but did have a bit of an attitude and could get very carried away in the moment (i.e continue to punch when an opponent was floored).

He very nearly became British Light middle champion when losing out to Wally Swift jnr after a really hard fought bout.

I think it was in that contest that he gave the ITV viewers a real laugh when he attempted to vault the top rope but tripped and ended up in a heap.

KO Artist · Post by **KO Artist** » 08 Sep 2006, 08:41

John Dillinger wrote:Remember him getting an absolute gift of a decision against some rock hard Argentinian.

Was a regular fighter on Midweek Sports Special.

He was a bully, an on top fighter. Wally Swift wasnt intimidated by him. Into the rave scene. Used to wear a smiley face on his trunks.

Saw him bashed up in sparring by Tony Velinor and nearly decpaitated by John Mugabi.

Had talent but beleived his own hype.

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 08 Sep 2006, 08:52

If i'm now thinking of the right person didn't Collins have a really bad 'spiv' moustache?

And also wasn't he in a picture with a load of other prospects that Warren had signed? think it was a double spread in the Boxing News.

E · Post by E » 08 Sep 2006, 08:59

topper123 wrote:If i'm now thinking of the right person didn't Collins have a really bad 'spiv' moustache?

And also wasn't he in a picture with a load of other prospects that Warren had signed? think it was a double spread in the Boxing News.

That was brother George with the spiv 'tache....

SticknMove · Post by **SticknMove** » 08 Sep 2006, 09:00

topper123 wrote:If i'm now thinking of the right person didn't Collins have a really bad 'spiv' moustache?

Nah, that was his brother George, who sported the same moustache from the age of about 14.

Scrap · Post by **Scrap** » 08 Sep 2006, 09:13

The best prospect in my eyes at the time with Frank was Kevin Sheeran now what happened to him Id love to know

THEBUTCH · Post by **THEBUTCH** » 08 Sep 2006, 10:31

Someone told me that Sheeran was a real loose cannon. Could turn aggresive just by being staired at.

chris s · Post by **chris s** » 08 Sep 2006, 10:51

mercman wrote:I remember both Tony and George Collins and seem to recall there was a third brother too. Is that right? If so can anyone remember who it was?

Benny was the baby brother.

Kevin Sheeran was a good fighter but madder than a march hare. There is a rumour him and Alan Minter had a sort out in a boozer a few years ago over bragging rights in Crawley

chris s · Post by **chris s** » 08 Sep 2006, 10:52

mercman wrote:I remember both Tony and George Collins and seem to recall there was a third brother too. Is that right? If so can anyone remember who it was?

Benny was the baby brother.

Kevin Sheeran was a good fighter but madder than a march hare. There is a rumour him and Alan Minter had a sort out in a boozer a few years ago over bragging rights in Crawley

MightyWarrior · Post by **MightyWarrior** » 08 Sep 2006, 11:53

Tony Collins was a good fighter, but lacked the big punch to avoid the long drawn out wars that eventualy put paid to his career prematurely.

I recall the Swift fight was a real war, live on ITV on a Saturday afternoon I think.

Big bruv George go all the hype - record breaking, unbeaten amateur - signed by Warren, who then watched in disbelief as his new star was iced inside a round in his last amateur fight, by Gary Stretch.

john2345 · Post by **john2345** » 08 Sep 2006, 12:20

Scrap wrote:The best prospect in my eyes at the time with Frank was Kevin Sheeran now what happened to him Id love to know

I'd forgotten about him till I read this thread. Did a Google search on the name....not sure if this (see below) is the same guy....age fits but clearly i'm not making any statement or drawing any inference one way or the other!

Extract:

Three other men, alleged to be part of the drugs ring, have been charged with conspiracy to supply a large quantity cocaine between August 25, 2005 and February 7, 2006. Kevin Sheeran, 35, of Roffey Close in Horley, Michael Corder, 37, of Crawley Road in Horsham and John Patrick Clark, 67, of Orpington, were all jointly charged with the offence.

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 08 Sep 2006, 17:32

mercman wrote:
That was brother George with the spiv 'tache....
If I remember rightly brother Tony had really long hair and used to have it in a plait when he fought - which was very unusual.....

Thats right - I remember it well from the cracking contest he had with Solihull's Wally Swift Jnr (who had the hair style of a bank manager incidentally - I think he was an insurance broker of similar outside of the ring, and a very gutsy fighter in it...)

KW1 · Post by **KW1** » 17 Feb 2009, 09:50

Yeah thats the right kevin sheeran, and as for the ruckus with minter, apparently he beat the granny out of minter.

Old bones Ian · Post by **Old bones Ian** » 17 Feb 2009, 10:51

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6092314.stm

has a picture of a Kevin Sheerin, so maybe someone can say if it is the ex boxer,

THEBUTCH · Post by **THEBUTCH** » 17 Feb 2009, 11:09

Looks different to how I remember him, but Horley is right near Crawley and Redhill where he spent a fair bit of time.

teddy007 · Post by **teddy007** » 17 Feb 2009, 12:52

KW1 wrote:Yeah thats the right kevin sheeran, and as for the ruckus with minter, apparently he beat the granny out of minter.

What did you expect? Massive age difference.

KW1 · Post by **KW1** » 17 Feb 2009, 13:46

What did you expect? Massive age difference.
Wasn't condoning it mate just stating a fact, i live in crawley and have heard he was quite a talent but wasted it with drink, and other things.

teddy007 · Post by **teddy007** » 17 Feb 2009, 15:19

KW1 wrote:What did you expect? Massive age difference.
Wasn't condoning it mate just stating a fact, i live in crawley and have heard he was quite a talent but wasted it with drink, and other things.

Yeah but you make it sound like it was somrthing to be proud of. Most people in there 20's and 30's would beat the granny out of him as you put it.

KW1 · Post by **KW1** » 17 Feb 2009, 16:13

don't condone it , just what happend , as you say hardly unexpected outcome anyway. How good a talent was Sheeran?,

chinny · Post by **chinny** » 17 Feb 2009, 18:37

I remember his last fight v Andy Till live on sky. Till just bulldozered him and basically made him quit, it looked like Man v boy

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