Walsh world champ material, says Collins

PASCHAL COLLINS, who trains Billy Walsh, insists the Corkman would already be a world champion if he had met him 10 years ago.

Collins, younger brother of the former undefeated WBO super middleweight champion, Steve, met Walsh by chance in the US last year and masterminded his debut victory over Shaun Hanson (RSF 2) and his points win over Rocky Muscas on the undercard to Bernard Dunne’s European title fight at The Point.

“If I had met him 10 years earlier... I have no hesitation in saying he would be a world champion now,” said Collins, who won 18 of his 19 professional fights — a number of them on the undercard to his brother.

“He’s got the American style of boxing — the style the US fans love — and I feel he has a lot of fights in him. He is still young by American standards. They don’t talk about age over there.”

Collins was part of the team that took Kevin McBride to his career high against Mike Tyson.

Walsh finds himself topping the bill when he takes on Moroslov Kubik from the Czech Republic over six rounds in the St Valentine’s Weekend Massacre at Cork City Hall.

Yesterday, he had no trouble at the scales, weighing in at 10st 7lbs 4ozs at the Clarion Hotel. Kubik tipped the scales at 10st 7lbs 8ozs.

Neil Sinclair weighed in at 10-11-4 for his date with the Polish school-teacher, Arek Malek, 10-8-2, and promised that this will be his first step back to a shot at a European title.

“That’s the plan,” he said. “And I think Brian (Peters) can deliver. I don’t mind where the fight is: Belfast, Dublin or Cork. I boxed in Cork as an amateur and I am looking forward to boxing here again. There is a huge following for boxing in Cork.”

That following is reflected in the fact there are a mere 100 tickets left for the City Hall showpiece that also features Ireland’s brightest new prospect, Paul McCloskey, who is coming off a big win over Eugene Stam from Romania in Letterkenny last week.

Walsh’s younger brother, Pa, makes his pro debut against former European bronze medallist, Tibor Rafael, from the Czech Republic while Stephen Haughian, a regular on the undercard to Bernard Dunne in Dublin, is all set to keep his unbeaten record intact against Dwain Hill from Sheffield.

James Gorman from Belfast is closely matched with Chris Long from Gloucester in what should be a tight light welterweight contest.