Steve Collins - St. Patrick's Day Special

We’re joined by Steve Collins, AKA The Celtic Warrior, for The Rocky Road St Paddy’s Day special 2023. Steve talks about his amateur days under legendary coaches Maxie McCullagh, Peter Glennon, Tony Davitt and John McCormack, the Collins/O’Rourke boxing dynasty and why he too had to fight, the shock of losing his father at an early age and the power of perseverance. Because, just as it took him three world title shots to win his first one, it also took him three Irish senior finals to be crowned king in the amateurs, too. But the pros were always the aim and, following a trip to the USA with Ireland in 1986, he caught the ‘Greyhound’ bus (more on that inside) to Boston to join the Petronelli Gym alongside Marvelous Marvin Hagler and never looked back. It’s 35 years this week since Collins fought old amateur foe Sammy Storey for the Irish middleweight title at the now torn-down Boston Garden (the only time the BUI belt was fought for in the USA). There’s no video footage online, though Steve and fellow TRR guest, Mike Culbert (who made his pro debut on the card) claim they’ve dusty old VHS copies – somewhere. Steve also tells a hilarious story about meeting the mayor of Boston during the St Patrick’s Day parade after the bout, and, er, Whitey Bulger, why he never gave Storey a rematch and why he admired Hulk Hogan so much, who took on Andre the Giant at Wrestlemania IV in that same month of March 1988. Finally, we discuss the Irish boxing GOAT and where he fits in the conversation, and we look ahead to the Katie Taylor v Chantelle Cameron undisputed title fight in Dublin on May 20 and wonder if Steve’s experiences v Chris Eubank in 1995 can offer an insight into what Katie’s going to be feeling in the lead-up to her homecoming. Every past guest seems to get a mention here: Sean Mannion, Gerry Creighton, Dave ‘Boy McAuley - it’s an episode, all right. 

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