Collins wants shot at ‘coward’ Jones

Almost 18-years ago the whole nation was screaming as one of their own fought to become a world champion.

The roof was raised at the arena in Millstreet, Co Cork, across the land bars were overflowing with fans jumping up and down and the rest of Ireland were glued to their TVs.

Dubliner Steve Collins went on to beat undefeated long-reigning champion Chris Eubank to earn a place in Irish history.

Collins beat him again and Nigel Benn twice before retiring from the game as he felt he had no one else left to fight.

Now at the age of 48, the ‘Celtic Warrior’ is preparing himself for one more big fight. Big money will be on offer, but of more importance to Collins he will fight the man who “avoided” him throughout his career. Roy Jones Junior was the one fight Collins wanted and you get the impression he would fight him the American’s back garden just to get it out of his system.

In fact the ‘Celtic Warrior’ knocked on Jones’ front door at one stage trying to get a fight together.

“Roy Jones avoided me when I was at my best, he is fooling himself if he thinks its safe to mouth off now,” said Collins. “Google Roy Jones v Fraser in Pennsicola and you will see me in the ring.

“Challenging him and you will see him run, at the post fight I offered him winner take all and he chickened out! “If Roy Jones thinks that I have gone soft being out of the ring so long he is making a big mistake.

“Jones has a big mouth, if he has a promoter willing to put it on then call me. I am calling his bluff.”

Collins has now been retired for 15-years but has kept in good shape working at his farm in Hertfordshire, England.

“If Roy Jones thinks that I have gone soft being out of the ring so long he is making a big mistake,” Collins added.

“I was very happy with my boxing career but there was one thing I chased for a very long time.

“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. 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.”

Jones has not taken kindly to being called a coward and accused of “ducking” Collins his whole career. “To say I am a coward you have got to be crazy,” said the 43-year-old.

“I ain’t never saying no to fighting him. I never ran from nobody, we can get it on right now. I can’t wait.”