Former Two-Division World Champion Bernard Hopkins (Left) and undefeated IBF Light Heavyweight World Champion Tavoris Cloud (Right) pose on January 15, 2013 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York at the press conference to officially announce their March 9, 2013 world title fight at Barclays Center which will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing. PHOTO CREDIT: Rich Kane - Hoganphotos/Golden Boy Promotions
Phil D. Jay WBN Editor Collins after the fight Williams Ray Collins Jr. or Billy Collins Jr. as he became known, was born to a boxing father in Antioch, Tennessee in 1961. His father William Sr, once fought Welterweight Champion Curtis Cokes and wanted his boy to follow in his footsteps, so decided to train Billy himself. Collins Jr. turned pro in 1981, a welterweight, just like his father before him and impressively won his first 14 professional contests, 11 by knockout with eight inside the first three rounds. It was 1983 and Billy was matched up against Puerto Rican journeyman Luis Resto on the undercard of Roberto Duran v Davey Moore at Madison Square Garden in a ten rounder. Resto wasn’t known for his punching power but Billy took a sustained beating for the full ten rounds, his face, badly damaged and his eyes were almost shut. After the fight, which Resto won on decision, Billy’s father shook Resto’s hand and noticed there wasn’t much padding in his gl...