GLASGOW, Scotland – Nathaniel Collins scored the biggest win of his career and claimed Scottish bragging rights by scoring a victory over Lee McGregor in four stunning rounds.
It finished at 1.45 of the fourth, with the well-supported Collins sending his jubilant army of fans home happy.
The 28 year old was delighted. “One year ago I was lying in hospital having life-saving surgery [having suffered a twisted bowel], and if you told me a year on I would be here fighting like this…. I can’t explain it in words," he said. "I’m a boxer and I can punch. That was the best Nathaniel Collins there’s been.”
Collins, 17-0 (8 KOs), from Bearsden in Scotland, could be set to usher in a new era for Scottish boxing. He claimed the vacant WBC silver featherweight title and McGregor fell to 15-2-1 (11 KOs), with Collins adopting a starring role at the Hydro Arena on the undercard of Josh Taylor’s welterweight debut against Ekow Essuman.
Collins had predicted it would be a cagey-and-tactical bout and the first round had a little of everything in it. At times, a maul seemed possible; then McGregor’s heavier hands looked like they might be the difference, only for the fast gloves and feet of Collins to enjoy success before the end of the round.
McGregor had Sunny Edwards as part of his corner team, and there was some good close-quarter work from both, to the extent that it was hard to split them.
Collins’ team cheered as he shovelled a left into the body in the third, and McGregor’s team cheered a counter right loudly in the fourth. However, it was not long after that when McGregor was down for the first time when a chopping left hand seemed to take everything away from his legs. McGregor was eventually bundled to the floor for a count, and down seconds later from a clean left-right.
The finishing blow came to the body – a straight left hand. McGregor’s team sent the towel in and Collins wheeled away to celebrate with his corner.
It was a statement win and one that would have been bittersweet for Collins – coming against someone he rose through the amateur, international, and pro ranks with and who he’s sparred so many times before.