Ewe heard right, Celtic Warrior Steve’s a shepherd

It may sound like he’s trying to pull the wool over our eyes, but boxing legend Steve Collins has told how he’s landed his dream job as a sheep farmer.

The 48-year-old from Dublin, who last fought in 1997, is back in training for a final grudge match against the former four- weight world champion, American Ray Jones Jr.

But “The Celtic Warrior” said he has no wish to make his comeback permanent — because he’s perfectly happy working as a shepherd in his rural hideaway in the UK.

The former WBO middleweight and super middleweight champ said he has spent the past 10 years tending 200-odd ewes with his wife.

And even though he admitted it’s hard to make a living from farming, he’s passionate about his animals and loves country life.

“I’ve a farm in England and I’ve been farming for 10 years,” he said. “There’s no money in farming, but I love it.

“My wife and I run the whole farm ourselves, we don’t employ people. We get help the odd time, but we like to do things our way. It’s hard work, but it’s great fun. I always loved the outdoor life and farming.”

In an interview on RTÉ’s The Saturday Night Show, Collins recalled his shock several years ago when he walked into his farmhouse living room and saw five of his lambs perched on the couches and being bottle- fed by his wife and kids.

“There’s no more lambing since then. I just get what we call mules, a mixed breed of sheep. We get them in, we fatten them up, and we sell them on.”

However, he insisted his shepherding duties will play second fiddle to boxing as he turns his focus to his comeback against Jones Jr, 44, which he believes could take place as soon as April.

While no concrete offers have been made yet, he said there had been strong interest from promoters in the Middle East and Russia, about staging the fight.

However, Collins said the first hurdle was for him to pass his medical tests to attain his boxing license, stressing: “I’m doing my medicals now, and if they’re not 100% right I won’t even entertain the thought of fighting again.

“I’m going for stringent tests now to get my license. I’m confident I will get them, but if there’s any doubt it won’t happen.”

Even though it’s 15 years since he last stepped into a ring, confident Collins, who started a rigorous training programme a week ago, said he feels fitter than ever.

“I started back training last Monday and I’m absolutely buzzing,” he said. “I’ve never felt so good all my life. Wait until you see me in 12 weeks’ time, I feel absolutely wonderful.

“I’ll never get this chance again. I mean, who could turn this down at this stage of my life and career? I didn’t expect this to come about.

“It’s a fight that should happen. This is our last chance to do it and I’m up for it big time.”