Patrick Hyland has been a victim of bad timing and it’s time he started clocking up some big wins claims new coach Pascal Collins.

‘The Punisher’, who fights for the first time under Collins’ tutelage at the National Stadium this weekend, has challenged for the WBA ‘Interim’ featherweight world title, has over 30 fights and just one career defeat, but hasn’t the profile his talents deserve.

Collins suggest that is because he came on the scene after the Bernard Dunne era and before the MGM along with Frank Warren brought regular TV cards back to Dublin.

With things quiet in Ireland while ‘Pajo’ was working his way up the ranks the Tallaght fighter and Golden Cobra graduate was forced Stateside and despite signing with major promoter Lou DiBella and securing a shot at Javier Fourtuna, things went a bit ‘stale’ for the Dubliner back home.

Collins is now keen for the 31 year old to change that and believes he now needs big fights to grab some of the spotlight and credit from the casual and not just boxing fans.

“I think what happened Pajo was he came at a time when there was not much elite boxing in Ireland so most of his fights were in America and a lot of his fights were not on TV,” Collins told Irish-boxing.com.

“He is an experienced fighter, but a lot of people haven’t seen his fights. I think then some inactivity meant he got a little stale. Pajo is a known name but he needs to expose himself to more fans here. I think he would benefit from getting fights over here, getting regular TV slots against big names. I think he needs big names now. He has earned the right to fight in big fights and he is ready for those fights. Hopefully he gets a European, Interim or even World title fight this year.”

Hyland has been a sporadic visitor to the Celtic Warrior Gym over the years, but is a permanent fixture in Blanch now and both he and those around him a benefiting claims Collins.

In fact the brother of former World champion Steve Collins believes the middle of three boxing brothers should have made the move earlier.

“Pajo was meant to come up to me before his Dad, Lord have mercy on him, passed away, but it didn’t happen. Recently we invited him up to the gym and said just ‘work alongside me’. The idea was we train together, hang out and see how things go. We are going to take it one fight at a time. I know Pajo a along time he would be down here sparring and he fought in America.

“He is a great addition to the gym he is very professional, does his work and his sparring with Stephen Ormond and Jono Carroll is great to watch. It is great for them all in terms of learning. I think he should have made the move a long time ago because of the sparring, the buzz and the pro atmosphere here. To be around other professionals would have helped him in the past.”