Collins keeps undefeated record with Hydro display
NATHANIEL COLLINS believes there is still more to come from him after defending his Commonwealth featherweight title against Jacob Robinson in Glasgow’s Hydro Arena.
Both men went into the contest with unbeaten records and it was the Welshman – son of former world champion, Steve - who tasted defeat for the first time in his tenth professional outing.
It was a second successful defence of the belt for Collins who will now look to add the British title later in the year after moving to 11 contests without a blemish on his record.
The Bearsden fighter said: “Whatever we can get next I’m all for it. The British title would be a great step forward in my career. That’s my second defence of the Commonwealth but I’m ready to go up again. You can see tonight I can go up levels.
“I believe in my ability fully. I knew Jacob was going to be a tough challenge but I’ve got the pedigree and that’s how it played out.
“We probably could have upped the pressure but after we got past halfway I said to Joe I wanted to get the 12 rounds in. I got a wee bit of cramp in my quad at the end but it was easy work.”
The opening round was
predictably cagey as both men sized each other up before the contest opened up a bit more in the second, with Robinson getting some joy with shots to the body and Collins warned about a blow to the back of his opponent’s head.
Robinson, coached throughout by a small but noisy Welsh contingent at ringside, landed a right in the third but it was Collins who looked the cleaner fighter and a smart uppercut hit the mark without doing his opponent any lasting damage.
The fourth round was more grappling than boxing although Collins did catch cleanly with a left overhand shot.
The Bearsden southpaw began to loosen up in the fifth and a neat combination of punches drew purrs of approval from the home fans in the sparsely-populated arena.
It was still competitive at the halfway mark, Collins on the front foot and looking the more dangerous fighter and starting to find his range with the jab.
In the eighth round he sent Robinson to the canvas although the Welshman was soon back on his feet and finished the round with a strong, clattering right.
The Scot still looked the stronger come the ninth round although a bloody nose showed he’d not had it all his own way.
Both boxers looked tired as the fight wore on into the tenth with Robinson warned for repeated use of the elbow during a messy 11th round.
Robinson’s supporters sensed he needed a knock-out but it was Collins who finished stronger in a deserved victory.
In the earlier contests, Regan Glackin held on to his unbeaten record by the skin of his teeth after being thoroughly tested by Robin Zamora throughout six rounds.
The Nicaraguan was lively from the start and looked set to gain a stoppage in the fourth round before the referee had second thoughts.
Zamora looked to have done enough to get the win but instead the referee scored it 58-57 in the Scot’s favour.
It was far more comfortable for Darren Johnstone who moved to 3-0 against the everentertaining journeyman Lewis van Poetsch, while there were also wins for Joe Ham, Jordan Grant, Corey McCulloch and Arran McGarvie.
There had been late withdrawals earlier in the afternoon from Michael McGurk, the undefeated super-welterweight and Kieran Smith, the 17-1 middleweight from Greenrigg, the latter on unspecified medical grounds.
Smith revealed his frustration via a social media message. “Absolutely devastated to announce that I won’t be competing tonight.
“I’m in the best shape of my life, made weight yesterday and am refuelled and ready to go but the BBBofC [British Boxing Board of Control] won’t sanction me for currently unexplained medical reasons.”