Tommy ready for the biggest night of his professional career

Tommy Collins…title chance. Pic: Manjit Narotra/BCB Promotions

TOMMY Collins is in for the biggest night of his professional career when he faces Sajid Abid for the Midlands light-welterweight title at the Eastside Rooms, Birmingham, on December 20, writes PAUL WEBB

The mouthwatering clash headlines BCB Promotions’ “Winter War” show. The 26-year-old, from Birmingham, hasn't boxed this year following an injury sustained in a motorcycle accident while on holiday. A big ticket-seller, the popular Northfield man had racked up an impressive 10-fight unbeaten record, but this will be his first contest over the ten-round distance. 
"I'm over the moon, said Collins. “It has been a long journey since starting out in the amateur days, but we have planned for this and wanted to be part of big shows. I have passed my apprenticeship and December 20th is a turning point. I've put in a great camp, and I'm going to do the business.
"I feel ready. We've had the injury and a long time out, but we sat down as a team and decided this was the right opportunity to take. The last couple of fights, it wasn't that I was falling out of love with boxing - I was just ready for something new and someone like Sajid, who is hungry and game and comes to fight. I'm not too focused on what he does, as such. It's focusing on our game plan and concentrating on doing the fundamentals.
In the majority of those ten previous fights, the opponents have changed late on or not been confirmed until near fight week. This time Collins and his team have had a chance to look at Abid, a former English title challenger who has the edge in terms of experience having gone the ten-round distance three times. 
Collins said: "This is my big test. It's a big step from what I have done before, but it's a small step in terms of the end goal and what I want to achieve in the sport. I have always had fantastic support and have been getting loads in the build-up to this one. My fans have been brilliant and Tommy Gun’s barmy army will be out in force.”

Torquay's Ben Andrews and big hitting heavyweight Matty Harris will both be boxing on the undercard.