STEVE COLLINS will make his seventh defence of his World Boxing Organisation super-middleweight title against Anwar Oshana of the United States at the Kelvin Hall, Glasgow, on July 5th.
Oshana, from Chicago, 5s on beaten as a professional after 16 fights - 10 inside the distance - and at 25 is seven years younger than Collins.
Although little is known about Oshana this side of the Atlantic. Collins says he will not be taking any chances. I will never take a fight for granted. When the fight starts there are two men in the ring and anything can happen. I always respect my opponent.
It doesn't matter whether it is Chris Eubank, Nigel Benn somebody like Oshana who is not a big name fighter. My training will still be as intensive. I haven't come this far in my career just to let it all slip away through carelessness," Collins said yesterday.
The Dublinee has gone back to Jersey where he has been joined by his American trainer Freddie Roach. Collins says that he has wanted to fight in Scotland for a long time. "I'm sure the Glasgow crowd will respond to my Celtic Warrior title. The fig ht bill is being advertised as Braveheart, and I am sure the Scottish will respond to that as well," he says.
Collins last pot his title at stake against Frenchman Fredric Seillier at the London Arena in February.
The bill also includes the WBO intercontinental light-heavyweight title fight between holder Mark Prince from London and John Wilson from Edinburgh. It will be Prince's first defence of the title which he won by beating Maurice Core in Manchester last year. Tickets for the fights will range from £20 to £100.
