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Steve Collins granted pro boxing licence – Nigel Benn rematch looming


Steve Collins is now a licensed boxer and looks set for a third showdown with 90s rival Nigel Benn.

A possible retro return between the Celtic Warrior and the Dark Destroyer, both now 53 years old, has been mooted for some months now.

After the Irish fighter explored the possibility of a Roy Jones Jr clash to no avail and the English puncher admitted defeat in trying to tempt Chris Eubank back into the ring, the pair agreed verbally to trade leather for a third time.

Both boxers have stayed in shape since their fighting days but, while Benn [42(35)-5(4)-1] is chasing ‘closure,’ the financially comfortable Collins [36(21)-3(0)] admits that he is entertaining the bout as a means to another payday.

It seems a massive step toward making the clash has been taken as Cabra’s Collins, who who ended Benn’s career after stopping the Englishman in two successive fights in 1996, revealed he has been passed fit by an unspecified governing body to fight and is now the proud owner of a licence.

“Nigel’s camp are still serious about going ahead with it,” Collins told talkSPORT this week.

“I’ve applied for my professional boxing licence which I have been successful in receiving.”

“I’m now a licensed professional, if they come up with a deal and if the money is there it’ll happen, I’ve no other reason to fight.”

The prospect of a clash between the two former two-weight world champions has been met with a mixed reception, with some suggesting it is a health risk and suggesting that they leave the fighting to their sons, three of whom are professional boxers.

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Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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