Pumpkin produces a near perfect display
Collins lands a right to body. Picture: MSN Images/BCB Promotions
BIG things are expected of tall Stourbridge light-heavy Ben Collins.
Signed by legendary promoter Frank Warren, the teenager who, for whatever reason, delights in the ring nickname “Pumpkin” appears destined to suc-seed. Apologies for the lame pun.
And despite being hampered by a chest infection, the former top amateur peeled off his second pro win on BCB’s Friday night show at the Eastside Rooms, Birmingham, with comparative ease.
The 19-year-old showed as good a jab as I’ve seen in recent years, the weapon constantly spearing Pavol Garaj’s guard.
Collins did drop a round to the Czech Republic’s tough fighter. The 37-year-old visitor, a veteran of close to 60 bouts, staged something of a grandstand finish, forcing Collins back with swinging punches and connecting with one looping right.
It was much too little, much too late and Ryan Churchill’s 39-47 scorecard mirrored my own.
Collins, a young man with a big Black Country fanbase, was critical of his performance.
“I have expectations and want to perform at my best,” he said. “I don’t think I did that in the last (round).
“The first three rounds were fine, but I’ve had a chest infection and my chest felt tight in the last.”
Collins (12st 5lbs 3oz), who ended the contest grazed by the side of the left eye, is being harsh on himself. Garaj, who I’ve seen on a number of occasions, can be a nuisance – even a danger - if given the opportunity. Ben didn’t give him the opportunity.
For the most part, he produced a textbook exhibition of the noble art. An immaculate jab – doubled and tripled – kept Garaj (12st 5lbs 7oz) at bay and Ben followed the leads with whiplash right hands, one making the Eastern European stumble in the first.
Garaj simply had no answer to Collins’ speed and accuracy, and I didn’t see him land a single punch in the first six minutes.
By the second, Ben was also looking to place left uppercuts, while Garaj unsuccessfully tried to target his tormentor’s long body.
It changed markedly in the last, with Garaj springing into life. In the last 60 seconds, in particular, he forced Ben back and found the target with one eye-catching right.
He gave the local favourite something to think about. Nothing more.