Before his February ring return, Charlie Tymon caught up with the unbeaten Scotsman to check his progress.
LAST year started so well for Nathaniel Collins.
As reigning British and Commonwealth title holder at featherweight, Collins added EBU Silver success with a points win over Italy’s Francesco Grandelli in May, also receiving the chance to show the nation his mettle as chief support of a televised show. Then, as mandatory for the European belt, and with his fanbase and momentum growing, the prospect of fighting for world title was becoming a distinct possibility.
Unfortunately, however, life can throw nasty surprises. Just 10 days after his biggest win to date, Collins’ career came to an impromptu halt. Rushed to hospital in extreme abdominal pain, he underwent lifesaving surgery to remove gastric adhesions, with a long and frustrating recovery to follow.
“The doctors knew what I did for a living,” Collins told Boxing News. “They told me that I couldn’t train at all at first. No weights, nothing. Then, as time went on, I was allowed to run, then eventually to start training… but it took ages.”
As he upped his training regime, it became apparent that a severely deviated septum was hampering his full recovery, this coming courtesy of Grandelli in the third round of their fight at York Hall.
“I knew it was broken straight away because I could actually see it!” Nathaniel laughs. “But I didn’t know how bad it was until I looked over at Anna [his partner] and my wee brother… and the look on their faces!”
Surgery was required in October and the 28-year-old found this second recovery even harder. “It was so painful for so long. Weeks. Then, when I started back at the gym it was sore after every session. Then it slowly started to get better. Now, it’s back to how it was before the break.”
With a long-awaited comeback fight in Glasgow this weekend (February 14), Collins hopes that 2025 will be the year where his momentum is restored.
He still holds the mandatory position for the EBU title held by Cristobal Lorente and believes that victory over the Spaniard will propel him to challenge for world honours. With four current ‘world’ champions to aim at, the first name mentioned is no surprise.
“I have always believed that me fighting [WBA champion] Nick Ball has been destined to happen… If I’m honest, I really don’t see the point of his fight against TJ Doheny. If those things hadn’t happened last year, then it would be me fighting Ball…
“But, with the timing of WBC title [Stephen Fulton defeating Brandon Figueroa on February 1), I think I could fight [Fulton]… And I’ve always dreamed of fighting in America. Vegas, or Madison Square Garden.”
The Scot is dreaming big, but the primary source of his hunger is to gain a secure future for his partner Anna and their daughter Izzie “I just want to be able to pay for our house and take that stress off. That’s my main goal.”
Prior to this assault on the summit southpaw Collins know he must negotiate his homecoming fight against a yet unnamed adversary on February 14, knowing only that it will be, “A fighter with decent record.”
Never one to scrutinise his opponents, he is not overly concerned who will be in the opposite corner. “The St Valentine’s Day massacre!” he laughs at the date. “I believe that no matter who it is, I can go in there and figure them out and get the job done.”
Only time will tell where the year will lead but, always the optimist, Collins (15-0, 7 KOs) looks back on the Grandelli fight, where his troubles began, in a positive light.
“Breaking my nose like that, and fighting on through it from the third round when I could hardly breathe… Now I know I can do that. I will fight better fighters, but I don’t believe I’ll ever be in a harder fight.”
With a European title within his grasp, we could well see another British fighter on the biggest of stages later this year.
