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Nathaniel Collins backed for superstardom by Scottish boxing legend
Former undisputed champion of the world Josh Taylor is backing compatriot Nathaniel Collins to become Scotland’s next boxing star.
Collins headlines a show live on DAZN this weekend for the very first time, taking on EBU European featherweight champion Cristobal Lorente in Glasgow.
Already ranked at No 1 by the WBC, Collins is on the verge of breaking into the world title picture, having collated an unbeaten record of 17 wins, with eight victories coming by way of knockout.
Ahead of Collins' biggest test to date, Taylor believes his fellow Scot has what it takes to establish himself as a world class fighter in the coming years.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Toe-2-Toe podcast, Taylor commented: “I think he is going to be good. He needs to be tested at world level, but this is a good acid test to see how he does this - which I believe he is going to do it, I think he’s going to take care of business in style, actually.
“And then move on to bigger fights, world title eliminators.”
DAZN commentator and former world champion Barry Jones suggested a future fight with Nick Ball, the WBA featherweight champion, could be in the offing for Collins, and Taylor is fully on board.
“That would be a great fight, that would be a fantastic fight,” Taylor replied.
Leigh Dawney/Queensberry
- Read next | Could Nathaniel Collins secure all-British title bout against Nick Ball with Cristobal Lorente victory?
Taylor has previously predicted that Collins will match his achievement of reigning as an undisputed champion. The Scotsman remains the only Brit to have completely unified a division in the four-belt era, defeating Jose Ramirez in 2021 to do so.
A few weeks back Taylor told Queensberry’s in-house media: “I’ve seen him first hand in the gym sparring. I've seen the way he lives the life as an athlete, and he's definitely got the talent, so there's absolutely no reason why he can’t [become undisputed].
“Obviously, there’s dominoes that have got to fall in your favour, but it's kind of wide open for him. I believe he can go and do it, and he definitely can do it. He’s got the talent to do it for sure, so I don't see there's any reason why not.”
Currently, the featherweight division is completely fractured, with four different champions recognised by the sanctioning bodies. WBA champion Ball has held his title since 2024, Angelo Leo holds the IBF strap, whilst Mexican Rafael Espinoza is the longest serving champion at 126lbs, having possessed the WBO title since 2023.
Collins’ most direct route to a world title, earned thanks to his No 1 contender status with the WBC, is complicated by the sanctioning body recognising three different champions. Stephen Fulton is currently full champion, whilst Bruce Carrington holds the interim version of the WBC belt. Ray Vargas is still champion in recess, having last fought in March 2024.
Fulton is scheduled to face O’Shaquie Foster for the WBC super featherweight title later this month, although the sanctioning body has previously allowed champions to retain their belt at a lower weight if they are unsuccessful when challenging for a title in a higher division.
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