by James Slater – For the first time in a while, Ireland’s Steve Collins finds himself in the news, and unfortunately it’s not good news. “The Celtic Warrior,” the WBO super-middleweight champion from 1995-1997, is, according to a news article on Herald ie, one day into a trial for which he is accused of assault. The trial began yesterday, and allegedly, after unsuccessfully attempting to get into the VIP section of The National Boxing Stadium to see a June 2006 Bernard Dunne fight, Collins hit bouncer Adrialik Voda in the face..
Apparently, upon asking the former champion for his name and the necessary pass needed to allow him into the VIP section, Voda was hit underneath the chin, causing a fracture to two teeth. Collins’ wife is standing by her husband and it is to be hoped the popular fighter is and was innocent.
According to Counsel for the prosecution Sean Gillane, the following turn of events took place back in the summer of 2006.
“Mr. Voda was instructed that no-one could gain access without a relevant, valid pass,” Gillane told the judge at the trial “It appears, as Mr. Voda was standing at the door, a man approached and sought to walk through the door. Voda asked to see the man’s pass and the man said, “Do you know my name?”
When Mr. Voda replied that he did not know his name he was pushed, the court heard. Voda then asked Collins to calm down.
“F**k you and your F*****g door,” it is alleged Collins, age 44, replied. He is also told to have said to Voda, “You have two seconds to move.” And that if he didn’t he would put the Albanian’s teeth “on the floor.” Upon remaining where he was and thus letting the two seconds expire, Voda was allegedly punched.
The trial was adjourned until today.
Again, it is to be hoped Collins is found innocent and was innocent, as boxing could well do without any more bad publicity. However, if the former fighter did what he is alleged to have done he should be punished accordingly, naturally.
Collins as a boxer is remembered for his cast-iron chin, his aggressive, fear-no-man attitude and his action-packed fights. Beginning his pro career in America, often fighting in Massachusetts, Collins worked his way to a shot at middleweight champion Mike McCallum’s WBA title. Losing on points, and also coming up short in a second attempt against Reggie Johnson, Collins moved up to 168-pounds and won the WBO belt with a points win over Chris Eubank in 1995 – arguably his finest win.
Successful retentions followed against Eubank in a rematch, Neville Brown, Nigel Benn (twice), Frederick Seillier and Craig Cummings. Collins retired from the sport after the 3rd round TKO over Cummings, perhaps partly due to the fact he’d been floored in the 1st round before coming on to win.
Collins’ final record reads 36-3(21). He was never stopped.