Blues hero Tommy gets his title chance

Tommy Collins...early Christmas present. Pic: BCB/MSN Images

TOMMY “Machine Gun” Collins – the fighter with a huge Barmy Army behind him – has his title fight!

The unbeaten 26-year-old will fight for the vacant Midlands light-welter belt in his home city of Birmingham on December 20.

And it looks a cracking 10 rounder. In the opposite corner will by Derby’s Sajid Abid who has lost only two of 16 and has, unlike Tommy, travelled the championship distance. Last September the 30-year-old was outpointed for the English light-welterweight belt.

I’ve said it before, but it’s worth saying again. The Midlands Boxing Board, under Matt Harris, should be applauded for ensuring champs are active and making quality title fights.

Tommy’s early Christmas present is among a number of mouthwatering championship matches unveiled in recent weeks.

Now on a 10 fight winning streak, Collins’ ring appearances are heralded by a noisy, blue tidal wave of Birmingham City supporters flooding into small halls. Each venue becomes a corner of St Andrew’s.

They’ll raise the Eastside Rooms’ rafters when Machine Gun starts firing those fast combinations on December 20.

Stoke City fans have former British middleweight champ Nathan Heaney. Blues die-hards have Tommy Collins.

For Tommy, the title chance comes after a frustrating year on the sidelines, caused, in part, by injury. He plans to make up for lost time.

“I’m over the moon,” he said. “It’s been really hard watching my gym mates fight, I’ve been jealous watching others getting the opportunities that I didn’t.

“But I think the break has done me the world of good – I’m really excited, I’m full of energy. I’m a gym rat. People talk about camps, but my whole life is a camp, as it should be for every fighter.”

Collins’ dad, Dean, has shouted long and hard for a title opportunity for his son who fights under the Black Country Boxing banner.

“I did wonder when the chance was going to come,” Tommy admitted. “The plan is to win this one and go on a push.” But he never considered walking away from the sport: “If I wasn’t boxing, what was I going to do?

“The dream has always been starting on small hall shows, then TV fights for British, European and world titles. We’re doing it the traditional way – go from the Midlands title, to the English to the British.

“It’s destiny. There’s a plan written for me.”

The first chapter should be completed five days before Christmas.