Steve Collins, the World Boxing Organisation super-middleweight champion, moved closer to his dream fight against Roy Jones Jnr last night, the man regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.
Collins (33) is in dispute with his promoter Frank Warren after refusing to defend the title he won against Chris Eubank in 1995 against the undefeated Welshman Joe Calzaghe next month.
Collins has been told he will lose his title if he refuses the defence and is meeting with Warren today. Warren said last night: "Collins is under contract to me for one more fight. This will be a short meeting, because if he doesn't agree I will pick up the phone and speak to the WBO. This is a mandatory defence and, if he doesn't agree to it, he will be stripped of his title. Collins has wriggled out of managerial contracts before, and he won't be doing it to me."
But speaking from the United States last night, Jones' attorney Stanley Levin hinted that a fight with his boxer was a distinct possibility. "Roy Jones would love to fight Steve Collins next. He has enormous respect for him as a fighting man. We understand that Steve has contractual agreements with Frank Warren, and this fight will only happen if we do a joint promotion. But Roy would be prepared to go to Ireland or England to take the fight."
Jones recently regained the World Boxing Council light-heavyweight title with a spectacular first-round knockout of Montell Griffin. Collins has made seven successful defences of his title and, in a sport desperately in need of genuine fights, this match is unquestionably one of the best which can be made.
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