Collins walks out on Calzaghe bout

Steve Collins has walked out on his fight with Joe Calzaghe and into a dispute with promoter Frank Warren. A grim-faced Collins turned up at a planned head-to-head meeting with Calzaghe at London's Cafe de Paris nightclub yesterday, said a few well-chosen words and took his leave, circulating a statement issued through his press agent, Max Clifford.

Warren and Calzaghe looked surprised, to say the least, to see Collins disappearing into the traffic and tourists of Leicester Square.

Warren was planning to stage the WBO super-middleweight fight at the 2,000-capacity Kingsway Leisure Centre in Widnes on September 6th, but the champion said later: "It's impossible."

Now the 33-year-old Dubliner intends to meet Warren to resolve the matter.

Warren insists that Collins was contracted to fight on July 5th - which he did, against America's Craig Cummings - and on September 6th. But Collins counters that his contract with Warren, which expires next month, catered for an option fight which he did not have to take.

Collins said: "I haven't discussed money and I wouldn't be ready to fight until the end of October.

"This fight doesn't appeal to me. Calzaghe is a very good fighter, but he doesn't bring a reputation or a title, and that's no disrespect to him.

"There's no money in it. People haven't heard of Calzaghe. I'd go in there with a low battery. And a 2,000 arena? I get more than that at my weigh-ins."

Warren contends that faxes were sent to Collins and that the Irishman knew "four to five months ago" about the September fight, but the champion says the first he heard of it was last Friday.

He had been on holiday in France and the south of Ireland during the initial publicity of the bout.

Calzaghe is next in line for a crack at Collins' title, as number one contender Juan Carlos Jiminez is contracted to another bout.

Collins' statement outlined two objectives - to become and remain world champion, and to maintain the highest possible standards in boxing, thereby providing his fans with world title fights of the highest distinction.

He continued: "I have abided by these two principles to date. However, a bout with Joe Calzaghe, with no disrespect to the fighter, is a bridge too far."

Collins wishes to unify the super-middleweight division with bouts against WBC holder Robin Reid, also promoted by Warren, and WBA champion Frankie Liles.

And if those assignments are not possible, Collins will be happy to switch his target to the WBO light-heavyweight crown.

He added: "As such, I wish to discuss my future schedule of bouts with Frank Warren so that I can continue my quest to unify the division.

"Such a goal is not only in my best interests, but also in the interests of the World Boxing Organisation and, last but not least, the fans."

The unbeaten Calzaghe said: "I think Steve is worried about fighting me. I think he's in for a big shock. There's no doubt in my mind I'll hit too hard, be too fast and too young. But it is a step-up for me. I think I'll stop him."