BoxRec

Not just in terms of flashiness, but overall including perseverance, chin and courage?

Here we go

Collins wasn't slick, big-mouthed and flashy like Eubank, but he beat him twice.

And beat Benn twice too.

Freedom2013 wrote:Collins wasn't slick, big-mouthed and flashy like Eubank, but he beat him twice.

And beat and Benn twice too.

Yeah he must have been better then, end of thread, thank fook!

Freedom2013 wrote:Collins wasn't slick, big-mouthed and flashy like Eubank, but he beat him twice.

And beat and Benn twice too.

Just using a random example here... Terry Norris beat Ray Leonard but I wouldn't imagine too many people think Norris was the better fighter.

Benn the obvious choice won titles abroad, marquee name on his resume

razzledaz wrote:

Freedom2013 wrote:Collins wasn't slick, big-mouthed and flashy like Eubank, but he beat him twice.

And beat and Benn twice too.

Just using a random example here... Terry Norris beat Ray Leonard but I wouldn't imagine too many people think Norris was the better fighter.

And Lewis beating Tyson great example of this also

razzledaz wrote:Just using a random example here... Terry Norris beat Ray Leonard but I wouldn't imagine too many people think Norris was the better fighter.

Not a valid comparison.

Collins was TWO YEARS OLDER than Eubank, and the same age as Benn. And Collins had been in plenty of wars and was not a "defense-first" kind of fighter who was rarely hit.

Freedom2013 wrote:

razzledaz wrote:Just using a random example here... Terry Norris beat Ray Leonard but I wouldn't imagine too many people think Norris was the better fighter.

Not a valid comparison.

Collins was TWO YEARS OLDER than Eubank, and the same age as Benn. And Collins had been in plenty of wars and was not a "defense-first" kind of fighter who was rarely hit.

Fighters hit the downslide at different ages. Just my opinion but Eubank would have knocked Collins out in the first fight if he hadn't lost the killer instinct after the Watson tragedy... Benn on the other hand was shot after the McClellan battle.

razzledaz wrote:Fighters hit the downslide at different ages. Just my opinion but Eubank would have knocked Collins out in the first fight if he hadn't lost the killer instinct after the Watson tragedy... Benn on the other hand was shot after the McClellan battle.

Why do some people always make excuses for Benn and Eubank? Why not give Steve Collins the credit he deserves?

Lot's of boxers fought well despite tragedy (Douglas, Brewster, Kovalev, Marciano, etc). Collins had some tough wars too, Benn had not been through worse.

Rexob wrote:

razzledaz wrote:

Freedom2013 wrote:Collins wasn't slick, big-mouthed and flashy like Eubank, but he beat him twice.

And beat and Benn twice too.

Just using a random example here... Terry Norris beat Ray Leonard but I wouldn't imagine too many people think Norris was the better fighter.

And Lewis beating Tyson great example of this also

You sure like fishing don't you

Prime for prime ive gotta go for Eubank

Chris Eubank born August 8, 1966 (youngest of the three)

0-2 against Collins
1-0-1 against Benn

Steve Collins born July 7, 1964

2-0 against Eubank
2-0 against Benn

Nigel Benn born January 22, 1964

0-2 against Collins
0-1-1 against Eubank

I do think that Steve Collins gets slightly less recognition than his wins over Benn and Eubank deserve.

I can see why Benn and Eubank are generally perceived to have operated at a higher level than Collins, they were involved in competitive, high profile fights against each other and Michael Watson for half a decade while Collins was operating overseas and ( ) losing fights.

And while I do think it's true that Collins probably didn't have as much mileage as Benn or Eubank by the time he fought them, the guys he lost to were better than 99% of those that Benn or Eubank had fought. They might have slipped by the time Collins got to them (more so Benn) but Collins had paid his dues. (And his first win over Eubank was a smart, gritty performance against a guy who would never be easily beaten).

Steve Collins never lost a fight in the British Isles.

He probably had only one decisive loss in his career, a decision loss to a very good fighter Mike McCallum in the USA.

In his other two losses, a close MD in the USA and a points loss in Italy, the home fighter (home-based in the case of Italy) may have had the benefit of home judging, especially the MD in New Jersey.

Steve was in some tough fights earlier in his career in other countries, especially the fight against McCallum, so he was probably past his best when he fought Benn and Eubank.

Collins was never stopped during his career.

I still would rank Eubank higher than Collins.
Collins really had to dig deep in their first fight, and I think Eubank in his prime would have too much for him.
Collins beats Benn all day long at super middle, at middle I don't know.

witherspoon wrote:I still would rank Eubank higher than Collins.
Collins really had to dig deep in their first fight, and I think Eubank in his prime would have too much for him.
Collins beats Benn all day long at super middle, at middle I don't know.

Eubank is two years YOUNGER than Collins.

Collins had tough fights in other countries, Eubank was protected and fought mostly softer opposition at home.

Why do people make excuses for Eubank? Pehaps Collins in his prime would have knocked him out.

Eubank had Collins over and on queer street before inexplicably backing off in the first fight. Second fight he was about a point off getting the draw/

i think benns win over the G man eclipses any result eubank or collins had, add to that a title win over an italian champ in italy, the mugging of barkley in vegas ( barkley was yet to win a further 2 world titles ) and the draw ( looked a win to me ) with eubank seals the number 1 slot for benn

littlepug wrote:i think benns win over the G man eclipses any result eubank or collins had, add to that a title win over an italian champ in italy, the mugging of barkley in vegas ( barkley was yet to win a further 2 world titles ) and the draw ( looked a win to me ) with eubank seals the number 1 slot for benn

I agree with that but Eubanks comeback punch from the brink against Watson, is pretty dam close though, it doesn't get much rawer than that?

Rexob wrote:

littlepug wrote:i think benns win over the G man eclipses any result eubank or collins had, add to that a title win over an italian champ in italy, the mugging of barkley in vegas ( barkley was yet to win a further 2 world titles ) and the draw ( looked a win to me ) with eubank seals the number 1 slot for benn

I agree with that but Eubanks comeback punch from the brink against Watson, is pretty dam close though, it doesn't get much rawer than that?

Was a very good win and a great fight

Collins for me... But I'm very biased.

Collins for me... But I'm very biased.

Yup, Steve was a good man and I was torn when he fought Benn who I loved seeing in the ring.

When it comes to toughness of chin and granite perseverance you could probably hit Steve with a big shovel today and he wouldn't even blink; he was the sort of man of steel that guys like Zale were famed for being. Come to think of it...Zale v Collins would be a tidy fantasy fight.

Freedom2013 wrote:Chris Eubank born August 8, 1966 (youngest of the three)

0-2 against Collins
1-0-1 against Benn

Steve Collins born July 7, 1964

2-0 against Eubank
2-0 against Benn

Nigel Benn born January 22, 1964

0-2 against Collins
0-1-1 against Eubank

ade the grenade wrote:

Freedom2013 wrote:Chris Eubank born August 8, 1966 (youngest of the three)

0-2 against Collins
1-0-1 against Benn

Steve Collins born July 7, 1964

2-0 against Eubank
2-0 against Benn

Nigel Benn born January 22, 1964

0-2 against Collins
0-1-1 against Eubank

Larry Holmes against Ali 1-0
Marciano against Louis 1-0
Norris against Leonard 1-0
Lewis against Tyson 1-0