Thread: Steve Collins Is Underrated, Nigel Benn/Chris Eubank Overrated.

I just watched Steve Collins who was a mere novice at the time, giving a prime Mike McCallum all he could handle. And after watching a few more Steve Collins fights i have to say he is the real deal.

And he doesn't get enough credit for beating Chris Eubank, when the fact is Steve Collins was the one who was considered past his best at that time. And he was older than Chris Eubank.

Im not saying Nigel Benn/Chris Eubank wern't great fighters in there own right. But it just seems the British fans give Steve Collins no credit at all. Despite taking on opponents like Sumbu Kalambay, Tony Thorton, Mike McCallum, Reggie Johnson ETC.

Whats your thoughts ?

yea Collins fought some top stars , even as a novice, his showing Against The Body Snatcher was more impressive than his wins against Benn and Eubank.

Collins does merit much respect.Tough as they come,very subtle workman faced quality.But I don't equate that instantly to Eubanks and or Benn being Over rated.Benn was a shadow when Collins faced him but yes,Collins beat him.Benn knew his lapses and weak points...they could be glaring.

Thinking about Thorton,When I sat and watched his fight with Eubanks as it happend..Might be off but I remember it extremely nip & tuck...check the sheet when I get home but I think I only had Eubank up by one

Originally Posted by leftylee number 1 groupie

I just watched Steve Collins who was a mere novice at the time, giving a prime Mike McCallum all he could handle. And after watching a few more Steve Collins fights i have to say he is the real deal.

And he doesn't get enough credit for beating Chris Eubank, when the fact is Steve Collins was the one who was considered past his best at that time. And he was older than Chris Eubank.

Im not saying Nigel Benn/Chris Eubank wern't great fighters in there own right. But it just seems the British fans give Steve Collins no credit at all. Despite taking on opponents like Sumbu Kalambay, Tony Thorton, Mike McCallum, Reggie Johnson ETC.

Whats your thoughts ?

Absolutely.

Originally Posted by leftylee number 1 groupie

I just watched Steve Collins who was a mere novice at the time, giving a prime Mike McCallum all he could handle. And after watching a few more Steve Collins fights i have to say he is the real deal.

And he doesn't get enough credit for beating Chris Eubank, when the fact is Steve Collins was the one who was considered past his best at that time. And he was older than Chris Eubank.

Im not saying Nigel Benn/Chris Eubank wern't great fighters in there own right. But it just seems the British fans give Steve Collins no credit at all. Despite taking on opponents like Sumbu Kalambay, Tony Thorton, Mike McCallum, Reggie Johnson ETC.

Whats your thoughts ?

Yep. I saw that fight live at the Heinze Auditorium in Boston. The lads from Southie (me included) were singing Irish songs, but the"Snatcher" had too much.

Originally Posted by leftylee number 1 groupie

I just watched Steve Collins who was a mere novice at the time, giving a prime Mike McCallum all he could handle. And after watching a few more Steve Collins fights i have to say he is the real deal.

And he doesn't get enough credit for beating Chris Eubank, when the fact is Steve Collins was the one who was considered past his best at that time. And he was older than Chris Eubank.

Im not saying Nigel Benn/Chris Eubank wern't great fighters in there own right. But it just seems the British fans give Steve Collins no credit at all. Despite taking on opponents like Sumbu Kalambay, Tony Thorton, Mike McCallum, Reggie Johnson ETC.

Whats your thoughts ?

He never had the kind of attention Benn and Eubank had which is a shame because he is just as great as either in his acheivements so I agree with your post entirely.

That's a crap title. You don't need to denigrate Benn and Eubank to make a case for Collins being underrated.

Why do you think Roy Jones ducked Collins so bad?

Originally Posted by Fenster

That's a crap title. You don't need to denigrate Benn and Eubank to make a case for Collins being underrated.

Why do you think Roy Jones ducked Collins so bad?

Why is it a crap title ? its the truth British fans do overrate Nigel Benn/Chris Eubank. And degrade Steve Collins any chance they get. Not even many British fans know the kind of competition Steve Collins faced before he fought Nigel Benn/Chris Eubank.

Its the same with Michael Watson he beat Nigel Benn, but did he get the attention ? no he didn't and Nigel Benn was still getting the much bigger fights/pay days.

Another example of this but in the USA is Mike McCallum, he was very underrated and lived in the shadow of fighters like Marvin Hagler, Roberto Duran, ETC. And i personally think Mike McCallum could of beat any of the fab 4 at his best.

Originally Posted by leftylee number 1 groupie

Originally Posted by Fenster

That's a crap title. You don't need to denigrate Benn and Eubank to make a case for Collins being underrated.

Why do you think Roy Jones ducked Collins so bad?

Why is it a crap title ? its the truth British fans do overrate Nigel Benn/Chris Eubank. And degrade Steve Collins any chance they get. Not even many British fans know the kind of competition Steve Collins faced before he fought Nigel Benn/Chris Eubank.

Its the same with Michael Watson he beat Nigel Benn, but did he get the attention ? no he didn't and Nigel Benn was still getting the much bigger fights/pay days.

Another example of this but in the USA is Mike McCallum, he was very underrated and lived in the shadow of fighters like Marvin Hagler, Roberto Duran, ETC. And i personally think Mike McCallum could of beat any of the fab 4 at his best.

Steve Collins is Irish not British

You don't need to put fighters down to "big up" other fighters.

You understand now why Roy Jones was so scared to face Collins, yes?

Originally Posted by Fenster

Originally Posted by leftylee number 1 groupie

Originally Posted by Fenster

That's a crap title. You don't need to denigrate Benn and Eubank to make a case for Collins being underrated.

Why do you think Roy Jones ducked Collins so bad?

Why is it a crap title ? its the truth British fans do overrate Nigel Benn/Chris Eubank. And degrade Steve Collins any chance they get. Not even many British fans know the kind of competition Steve Collins faced before he fought Nigel Benn/Chris Eubank.

Its the same with Michael Watson he beat Nigel Benn, but did he get the attention ? no he didn't and Nigel Benn was still getting the much bigger fights/pay days.

Another example of this but in the USA is Mike McCallum, he was very underrated and lived in the shadow of fighters like Marvin Hagler, Roberto Duran, ETC. And i personally think Mike McCallum could of beat any of the fab 4 at his best.

Steve Collins is Irish not British

You don't need to put fighters down to "big up" other fighters.

You understand now why Roy Jones was so scared to face Collins, yes?

So what if he is Irish ? British fans should still give him credit, he beat an undefeated Chris Eubank. And he took the title from him the right way by taking the fight to him. He fought hungry and he won he deserves alot of credit, especially since all the tough fights he had over in the USA.

Im not putting down Nigel Benn/Chris Eubank, my post clearly states what my title meant. I didn't have room to put a big explanation on the title, and i made sure with my first post that i wasn't degrading Nigel Benn/Chris Eubank.

Hence why i put "Im not saying Nigel Benn/Chris Eubank wern't great fighters in there own right. But it just seems the British fans give Steve Collins no credit at all."

As for your last part i don't know all the details, but Steve Collins was tailor made for Roy Jones. I don't think he'd stand much of chance, but i do think after the 2nd Montel Griffin fight. RJJ's opposition wasn't as strong and he didn't seem to want to take risks while fighting.

Although i still feel his opposition wasn't that bad at all after the 2nd Montel Griffin fight, he still fought some quality fighters like Virgil Hill, Eric Harding, ETC.

All three on the same level IMO. I'd pick Collins over Eubank prime for prime as Chris could be outworked at any time throughout his career, but styles make fights, and I find it a hell of a shame that Eubank didn't press for the big names Toney/Jones. Not saying he would've beat 'em, but he would have given them hell with his awkwardness and one of the best chins of his era.

Originally Posted by Bomp

All three on the same level IMO. I'd pick Collins over Eubank prime for prime as Chris could be outworked at any time throughout his career, but styles make fights, and I find it a hell of a shame that Eubank didn't press for the big names Toney/Jones. Not saying he would've beat 'em, but he would have given them hell with his awkwardness and one of the best chins of his era.

There were so many fights missed out on in the 90s Middleweight/Super Middleweight era.

Nigel Benn vs Julian Jackson
Mike McCallum vs Michael Nunn
Chris Eubank vs James Toney
Roy Jones vs Steve Collins

And you could switch any of these names around, and there all still interesting match ups.

Hes in shit at the moment(Collins) he was working for RTE at Bernard Dunnes fights at the national stadium, he had no pass when he arrived and punched some bouncers teeth out because he didn't recognise him and wouldn't let him in, sound fella

Court told Collins punched bouncer - The Irish Times - Fri, Nov 21, 2008