IRISH boxing legend Steve Collins could return to the ring for the first time in almost 20 years with a fight against rival Roy Jones Jr on the cards.
The former WBO World Middleweight and Super-Middleweight Champion is prepared to put on the gloves again if Frank Buglioni defeats Fedor Chudinov early in their Wembley Arena fight on Saturday, September 26.
He is keen to take on Jones, after it was revealed that WBA World Super-Middleweight Champion Chudinov brought in the services of the American for his title defence against Buglioni.
Collins, 51, twice defeated British greats Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn during his career, but he never had the chance to fight Jones.
“If Frank knocks Chudinov out in the first couple of rounds and the fans’ want more action then I’m happy to put on the gloves again and fight Jones if he’s up for it,” he said.
“I chased and chased Jones throughout my career and he never wanted to fight me, but now we’re in the same ring in opposite corners, it’s the closet we’ve ever got in a ring, I’ll still have it with him if he fancies it.
“I’m still in great shape, I’ll fight him whatever weight he is. The fight is easier now than it was 10 or 15 years ago.”
Collins also believes that the call by Chudinov’s camp to bring in Jones ahead of the fight is a desperate sign.
“Chudinov must be worried if he feels he needs Jones to help him at this stage of his training programme,” he added.
“Roy Jones was a very good fighter and has great knowledge, but we believe that they must be clutching at straws to bring him in only a few weeks’ out from the fight.”
“It put a smile on Frank’s face when he found out. For one, there’s the language barrier between them and Roy Jones’s fighting style is completely different to Chudinov’s.”
