Nathaniel Collins Signs For Queensberry

THE BRITISH AND Commonwealth featherweight champion Nathaniel Collins has signed a promotional agreement with Frank Warren to fight under the Queensberry banner on BT Sport.

Collins, 26, teams up with the Hall of Fame promoter following his capture of the Lonsdale belt in March, secured via a seventh round stoppage of James Beech jr in March and his 2022 Commonwealth title success over the previously unbeaten Jacob Robinson, with both fights taking place in Glasgow.

The 12-0 (6 KOs) southpaw now adds to the Queensberry featherweight ranks, which also includes Nick Ball, Louie Lynn, Ryan Garner and Masood Abdulah.

"I am absolutely buzzing, it is a massive opportunity and an opportunity I have been waiting for," reacted the Scot upon completing a trek up a 'wee mountain' called Conic Hill in Loch Lomond, some 45 minutes from his home in Bearsden.

"I am ready to grab it with both hands and make myself known. I only got wind of it a week or two ago, I was speaking with my manager Sam (Kynoch) and he had been in touch with George (Warren). I was then waiting for the contracts to come through and was a bit nervous, but then it all came through and I was so thrilled."

Collins now gets his opportunity to shine on a major TV platform as largely a self-made champion who has not benefited from being developed in the wider public eye. He is ready to jump straight into battle for further title glory.

"Absolutely, I have been in the game for 10 years and nothing has ever been handed to me easy, so to work this hard and get on such a big platform with Queensberry and to be on BT is just phenomenal. I am just a wee guy from Scotland doing big things for the country, so I am buzzing for it.

"I am ready to go with anybody. Whoever wants it can get it! Hopefully I can press on down an international title route because I am not really bothered about defences and stuff. If I can get a WBC or IBF International title it will push me on further. It is my time to get in the mix."

Collins got a taste of what could be in prospect for him moving forward when he attended the big Joyce-Zhang showdown at the Copper Box Arena last Saturday and was suitably motivated by the experience.

"It was amazing, I was pretty excited about it all because I was near enough in the front row. It was massive and I was buzzing about it because it was a venue I will probably be fighting at soon.

"It was great to get a taste and the atmosphere was brilliant. It was good because I've not been part of anything like that because nothing like it is happening up in Scotland. So to get down and be part of it, have my ringside pass and stuff, made the fire in my belly burn even stronger."

Promoter Frank Warren added: "I am delighted to be adding such a quality fighter as Nathaniel to the team and he is fully deserving of getting the chance to perform on the biggest stage.

"He comes to us with two coveted title belts and is good to go when it comes to being put in big, meaningful fights that will boost his standing internationally.

"I've been impressed by what I've seen of him and Nathaniel clearly has huge ability. Now we will get him the opportunities to fulfil his obvious potential and the chance to shine as a TV fighter."