Collins, 48, announces return to the ring for grudge match

Boxer Steve Collins has sensationally announced that he is to come out of retirement.

The former WBO middleweight and super middleweight champion said he is to fight Roy Jones Jr. on his return to the ring.

The Dubliner, who retired in 1999, was said to be prepared to fight the American legend several times during the 90s, who won 55 of his 63 professional contests.

Collins, now 48, told the Keys and Gray on talkSPORT: “It’s not a comeback as such, at my age I’m too old for that, but it will be the end of a 15-year grudge.

“It’s a fight Roy Jones needs. He claims to be one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters around but he refused to fight me.

“I was very happy with my career, but the one fight I wanted was Roy Jones, and when that didn’t happen I retired. To me he was afraid of me. I don’t think he’s a coward, but at the time he was!

“But now it’s happening. I spoke to Roy and we’re going to get it on. He wants one more fight before he retires and this is the one he wants.

The Celtic Warrior said he would split a "good offer" down the middle with Jones, and is looking forward to the fight.

“Hopefully we’ll get an offer that’s suitable for us both and we get it on. It will give all old-timers some hopes!

“I would like 10-12 weeks to get ready. In my mind I already see how that fight goes and I can see the outcome. I feel like I’ve never been away.

“This is still a match. We’re the same generation. I wouldn’t even consider fighting as guy 15 or 20 years younger than me, because that’s not a match. But we’re the same age and this is a fair match. It won’t be any different to how it would have been 15 years ago.

“I’d love the fight to be in the UK but there is interest from Dubai, Russia, China. Dubai looks the favourite, but we’ll have to see where the offers come from."