Steve Collins: I’d come out of retirement to fight Roy Jones Jr.

Frank Stea
Senior Reporter

Irish ring legend and former WBO middleweight and super middleweight world champion Steve Collins recently made headlines on WBN for being appointed the new President of the Malta Boxing Commission.

Since retiring as world champion in 1997, Collins made appearances on the big screen and as a television pundit, but mainly stayed away from the spotlight as far as boxing was concerned.

Now, as he readies himself to tackle his new position as the head of Maltese boxing outside of the ring, Collins spoke on the one fight that he felt truly eluded his historic career inside of the ring.

“I was very happy with my boxing career but there was one thing I wished for and chased for a very long time,” Collins told World Boxing News.

“When Roy Jones was at his best and I was at my best, we were the two best super middleweights in the world. I had beaten Eubank, Benn and all these guys and Roy had beaten James Toney and these other guys in the U.S.

“My argument was that I was the champion. I was known in America. I had beaten other world champions in Europe and I wanted to fight Roy Jones so bad. I even went to Pensacola and spoke with his managers and to his house!

“He ran though and he wouldn’t have it. That is my big regret that Roy Jones wouldn't give me the opportunity to have that one big fight before I retired and I don’t forgive him for that.

“To me he was a coward for not taking me on. People say Roy Jones was a great fighter but I knew all along that Roy Jones didn't have a great chin. I swore to people that if I had gotten the fight with him, I guaranteed I would catch him on the chin and he would go out.

“It just bothers me that people talk about him so much. The kid ran from me for all of his career. I’m 48 years old. So between now and when I turn 50 years old if Roy wants to fight, I’ll take the opportunity now."

Frank Stea is co-presenter of ATG Radio as well as a head reporter at WBN. Follow him on Twitter @FrankStea and @ATGRadio.

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