Career
Born in Curaçao, Collins was based in Leeds. In December 1978 and January 1979 he twice fought Dennis Andries who was at a similar stage in his career, Andries winning both fights. In March 1981 he beat Karl Canwell in an eliminator for Bunny Johnson"s British title, and beat Andries on points a year later to take the title vacated by Johnson.
He made a second successful defence in March 1983 against Antonio Harris and a month later beat Alex Sua on points in an eliminator for the Commonwealth title.
The third defence of his British title came in January 1984 against Andries, and Andries took the title on points. Collins was due to fight Charles Williams for the IBF world light-heavyweight title in February 1988, but the fight was called off by promoter Frank Warren due to the IBF"s insistence that it should be fought over 15 rounds, with the BBBofC refusing to sanction a fight of more than 12 rounds.
The first defence of his European title came in May 1988 against Mark Kaylor. Collins knocked Kaylor out in the ninth round.
Collins lost the European title in September when he was stopped in the seventh round by Pedro van Raamsdonk.
In October 1989 Collins travelled to Australia to challenge Jeff Harding for the WBC world light-heavyweight title. After two rounds in which the fighters had traded heavy blows, Collins failed to come out for the third. Collins" $25,000 purse was initially withheld but was paid the following month.
In August 1990 Collins regained the European title with a ninth round knockout of Eric Nicoletta.
His next four fights included three losses and one draw, but in August 1993 he challenged Johnny Nelson for the World Boxing Federation world cruiserweight title. Nelson stopped him in the first round.
This was Collins" final professional fight.
