Collins: Frampton can be Ireland’s best ever and World’s greatest

Too date it’s a debate with no clear winner. Who is the greatest Irish fighter of all time.

Some would argue it’s Barry McGuigan, Katie Taylor is always up there on the list, Wayne McCullough would have his advocates, as would Rinty Monaghan and others. Welterweight star of the 1930’s Jimmy McLarnin is probably the name mentioned by most, while Steve Collins always had the two weight World champion as a trump card.

The Celtic Warrior agrees thst Carl Frampton, having traveled to America to defeat three-weight World champion Leo Santa Cruz and emulate his two weight achievements, has had his name added to the list of possibles.

However, the Dubliner, who gained massive fame with wins over Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn in the 90’s, believes Frampton has the credentials to go down as the greatest fighter Ireland has ever produced.

So impressed was Collins with Frampton’s victory over the Mexican last Saturday week that he labelled ‘The Jackal’ the best featherweight in the World, after just one fight at the weight and even went as far as to say he is contention to recognised as the pound for pound #1 in current World boxing.

“Without a doubt, he can be the best fighter ever to come out of Ireland, and maybe even the best in the world right now – he’s already the best featherweight in the world,” he told The Irish Post.

“Look at his record, he’s only had 23 fights and he’s a two-weight world champion at the age of 29, you can’t underestimate that.”

“He’s still got around 15 fights left in him and he can go and win a third world title in a bigger weight if he wants to.”

“Look at the shoulders and the build on him. He can be as good as he wants to be. He’s got the work ethic, the dedication and the right team around him.”