Pro game gets a big ticket-seller in Ben

Ben Collins (left) with his Haringey gold medal

THE pro ranks is to get a truly towering newcomer in Ben Collins – all 6ft 6ins of the light-heavy.

What’s more, the paid game is gaining a spectacular ticket-seller. Ben, from Stourbridge, regularly flogs between 100 and 150 tickets for club shows.

And it’s certainly getting a boxer with one of the most unusual ring names currently out there. As a boxing monicker “Pumpkin” isn’t going to spread fear through the opposition. It’s no “Dark Destoyer” or “Manassa Mauler”.

The 18-year-old has announced his intention to turn pro after proving the surprise package in this month’s major Haringey Cup tournament.

He went into the competition, held at London’s Alexandra Palace, having lost his only two contests as a senior.

Haringey proved his coming of age. He fought three times, outpointing Earlsfield’s highly regarded Omar Augustine in the final.

Ben’s amateur career is a map of ever increasing progress, belief and crowd-pulling power. He lost 13 of 29 – his first six as a schoolboy – for Lions, Priory Park and Darlaston and then BCB. Ben reached three national finals.

To an extent, the decision to go pro was an easy one. In truth, he was almost there already: a raft of sponsors have meant Ben can concentrate on boxing full-time and he spars top professionals.

“I’m a fit lad,” the teenager told me. “Haringey was the best I’ve ever looked as an amateur, as far as workrate.

“I only really took boxing seriously during Covid, just before lockdown. I was in my last year at school and they asked what I wanted to do when I left. I only really wanted to be a boxer and realised I had to knuckle down.

“Really, I’ve only ever been in 50-50 fights – records have never bothered me.”

Ben believes his style is made for the pro ranks.

“I decided to turn over while I’m still on a high from Haringey, it’s something I’ve wanted to do since I was seven. Even back then, I scribbled it in a scrapbook.

“100 per cent I think the professional style will suit me more. I can sit down on my shots, my style is to get people to walk into shots.

“I’m a rangy fighter. I keep it long, but can shorten shots to change the distance. You’re yet to see the knockout punch, but I’ve only been working with pro guys for six months. When I sit down on my shots, I’ve noticed the power.

“And I have 10 sponsors who have followed me for the last two or three years, so I can totally concentrate on boxing.”

It’s too early to predict what Ben will achieve. But promoters booking him can be assured of a very healthy crowd – that’s a cert.