Steve Collins Jr’s funny take on his dad’s rematch with Nigel Benn

There has been a mixed reaction to the news that former two-weight world champions Nigel Benn and Steve Collins are to come out of retirement for a third fight.

Should the fight be sanctioned, it is being targeted for October or November, when the pair will be a combined 106 years of age.

Some feel that the fighters are too old, and that it could be dangerous or tarnish their legacies. Others feel that, once the necessary safety precautions are taken, there is no problem with the fight, especially in light of Dublin debutant Conor McGregor facing Floyd Mayweather in August. Then there are those that believe the fight will never happen, much like the Collins-Roy Jones and Benn-Chris Eubank III fights which have been mooted in recent years.

However, the funniest reaction came from the son of the Celtic Warrior – Steve Collins Jr.

A rising pro boxer himself, racking up a 10(4)-1(0)-1 record and last week being outpointed in an Irish light heavyweight title fight, ‘The Wolfhound’ is known for being a bit of a joker and today sent the following thinly-veiled tweet.

When I’m 50 something and have a midlife crises, I will just buy a new motor bike. You get me.

— Steve Collins Jr (@StevieCollinsJR) June 29, 2017

Collins Sr [36(21)-3(0)] won the WBO middleweight and super middleweight titles in the 1990s, becoming Ireland’s first two-weight world champion. The Cabra boxer defended his 168lbs belt for the fourth and fifth times against then-recent WBC champ Benn in Manchester back in 1996.

The first meeting ended in the fourth round when the Englishman injured his ankle and turned his back on Collins. The rematch saw Benn pulled out by his corner after six rounds, with it apparent that he was making no dent on the Dubliner and starting to ship punishment..

Benn [42(35)-5(4)-1] retired following these two losses. Collins retired as undefeated champion in 1997, and a comeback to face Joe Calzaghe in 1999 would be halted when he collapsed following a sparring session with Howard Eastman.

The proposed third fight stems from Benn’s need for closure on his career. The Londoner initially hoped to face Eubank, defeated twice by Collins and with whom Benn drew and lost to, but with negotiations being of little success he has turned to the Irishman.

Photo Credit: Ricardo Guglielminotti – The Fighting Irish (@ThefIrish)