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Steve Collins Jr reluctantly gunning for Chris Eubank Jr


He hates talking about it, but Steve Collins Jr can’t but admit he would ‘absolutely love’ a fight with Chris Eubank Jr.

Being the fighting sons of two legendary fighters who share a folklore style rivalry the pair where always going to be linked when they turned over.

Steve Collins v Chris Eubank III had a nice ring to it and people fantasied about seeing the two old warriors coming face to face again as their sons when to war.

However, a weight disparancy meant the clash never looked likely. Collins Jr, whose father dethroned then WBO World super middleweight champion Chris Eubank on a famous night on St Patrick’s weekend in 1995 before winning a rematch, was operating between crusier and lightweight.

Eubank Jr on the other hand began life as a middleweight and the suggestion is he only now operates at super middle for money reason.

With Collins making the move down to 168lbs this weekend and thus moving into Eubank’s domain a clash between the pair was always going to be put back on the interview agenda.

‘The Wolfhound’ never wanted to be known as his fathers son, rather a boxer in his own right- and seems to feel the Eubank link detracts from that.

However, he is smart enough to know how high profile a meeting of the pair would be and although somewhat reluctantly he admits it’s a clash he would love.

“I can’t do an interview without someone mentioning Chris’ name. It’s a good click bait headline for you,” he tells Irish-boxing.com as we try to sneak the topic into an interview about his upcoming Celtic Title fight.

“Look absolutely it’s a fight I’d be looking for, but it’s like beating a dead horse when it’s brought up all the time.

“I would love that fight with Chris Eubank. What a name. There would be big money involved in that fight and that’s why we do it. You have to earn a living as well as fight for world titles and so on. I also think it there would be a great story to tell there.”

Collins knows the business and is aware a fight with Eubank makes sense, but also knows the sport and is aware he will have to prove himself as quality super middleweight operator to secure the clash.

Step one of that process takes place this Saturday night on the #MTKFightNight Feile card where he takes on undefeated Belfast fighter Padraig McCrory for the vacant BUI Celtic title.

The Pete Taylor trained fighter suggests if he doesn’t win on the massive Belfast card this weekend the lucrative Eubank fight will be some way off.

“I have to be realistic. Saturday I fight for a small area title. I win this one, win the next one and then I can start thinking about it. I am not going to call him out unless I am in a position to. But I am planning on getting into a position to call him out.

dpg

Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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