In the Shadows: Nathaniel Collins gets his British featherweight title shot, but is still being ignored

AS irritating because it is generally to look at as British boxing pivots away from the traditions of the sport – specifically, British title fights – in the direction of what they think about to be a meal extra simply digestible for a “chronically online” viewers, think about for a second the way it feels for the boxers left on the shelf, these begging for alternatives.

One such boxer is Nathaniel Collins, the present Commonwealth featherweight champion from Scotland. His upcoming British featherweight title struggle towards James Beech was initially mooted for the undercard of a Sky Sports present on March 4 in Glasgow solely to be pulled altogether as soon as that present’s headliner, Josh Taylor, was struck down by damage. Now, having begged simply to get on that undercard, Collins has discovered his struggle towards Beech shifted to March 10 at Glasgow’s DoubleTree Hilton, with no involvement from Sky Sports or another main broadcaster.

“I’m buzzing that I’m fighting in my home city but ideally I’d rather be on the bigger stage, fighting on Sky, or on something like DAZN,” Collins, 11-0 (5), advised Boxing News. “There are individuals who have signed with Boxxer and individuals who have signed with Matchroom who haven’t received half the accolades I’ve and it’s irritating in that sense. I’d like to be on a much bigger platform.

“Honestly, it gobsmacks me generally after I open up social media and see that so-and-so has signed for Boxxer or Matchroom on a long-term deal. This individual might need solely have had three or 4 fights they usually’re getting alternatives like that. What then often occurs is two or three fights into that deal they’re lastly given a half-decent take a look at they usually disintegrate. I’ve been preventing 50/50 fights for many of my profession and so I do know I can deal with myself after I step up. Still, although, it’s laborious to get signed by someone.

“We pushed so laborious to get this (Beech) struggle on Sky Sports. Boxxer had been like, ‘We’ll let you understand,’ and I used to be considering, Why would you want to give it some thought? It made a lot sense for it to be in Scotland, at the Hydro, on the undercard of Josh Taylor’s rematch with Jack Catterall.

“After that, once the whole show was cancelled, they said, ‘Well, maybe we’ll be able to get you (and the fight) down south.’ Maybe this. Maybe that. But why maybe? All you have to do is give me an opportunity and then I will become British and Commonwealth champion and you can add those belts to your stable. They were making it out to be a lose-lose situation, but, if you think about it, these were the same belts won by Leigh Wood and Josh Warrington before they went on to bigger honours.”

Collins clearly has some extent. Often, the truth is, British title fights, particularly in traditionally related divisions like featherweight, was once a staple of televised boxing exhibits in Britain. They offered not solely aggressive fights, in the predominant, but additionally, as Collins talked about, helped construct the profiles of future European and world champions.

That networks like Sky Sports have seemingly cooled on home titles lately says so much about the new method to the sport from main broadcasters. It is an perspective that has sadly rubbed off on lots of the sport’s individuals, too.

“It’s funny because every boxer says they want to win the British title, but I’ve never really thought about the British,” stated Collins, who, at 26, has minimize his enamel in the professional sport at a time when the British title has been sadly devalued. “I’ve all the time simply thought of world titles. I used to be by no means bothered about the British. I simply all the time needed to get to world degree through the quickest route attainable.

“It simply so occurs that the path to getting there has taken me in the direction of the British title and now it has I’m actually wanting ahead to preventing for it. It is a giant accolade. There are usually not many individuals from Scotland who’ve held each British and Commonwealth, so I’m trying to get my identify in the historical past books.

“For me, though, this is just another step towards world level. I’m not overlooking James Beech here because that would be a mistake but I am confident in my ability and know what I am capable of.”

To win the Lonsdale belt Collins should take care of a shock package deal from the Midlands who gained the alternative to problem for the vacant title when outpointing the beforehand unbeaten Raza Hamza in December. That was a outcome few anticipated, but Collins had seen sufficient in Beech, 15-3 (2), to know he may give Hamza issues.

“I watched Beech against Dennis McCann and I saw that he was quite busy,” he stated. “I do know Raza as nicely and know he’s fairly laid-back and likes to take a seat off and never throw many punches. I wasn’t shocked by the upset that a lot.

“Beech is match and he applies good stress, but, in my view, he makes a variety of errors. As lengthy as I’m match and I can transfer, which I can, I shouldn’t have an excessive amount of bother. If I need to field all evening it’s going to be a extremely irritating evening for James Beech, and if I need to stand and have a struggle, I can try this as nicely.

“I can’t see a means that he wins, in my view. Obviously, he’ll assume in any other case. But, when you have a look at his file, he’s not a giant puncher. He’s had 18 fights and two stoppages. When you watch him, he’s there, continuously in your face, but he additionally smothers a variety of his personal work. It’s simply matching that health of his actually and ensuring I don’t get complacent.

“A lot of people are saying to me, ‘Oh, this will be an easy fight for you,’ but, no, absolutely not. Beech has experience doing 12 rounds in title fights. He’s no stranger to this level and a British title fight is a world title fight for him. If you have already experienced a loss, what have you got to lose?”