Stourbridge's Ben Collins took his professional record to two without defeat at the Eastside Rooms Birmingham (12.04.24). The nineteen who made hid debut in December of last year was taking on tough journeyman Pavol Garaj (37) from Slovakia in a four-three-minute round contest. Garaj was entering the ring for the fifty-seventh time in this light Heavyweight contest with both fighters weighing in twelve stone five with Ryan Churchill reffing.
Dominant first round by Collins as he used a heavy sharp jab to set up some big right hands and some great combinations. Everything came off a piston-like jab in the second round for Collins as he landed sharp left hooks to the head and some heavy back hands to the body and some quality combinations.
Garaj started to let his hands go in the third but Collins continued to dominant the fight with dome cracking back hands and combinations. Great shot picking from Collins in the final round as he moved around the ring as Garaj started to have a ho letting some good shots off. Collins dealt with the pressure well and seemed to enjoy the toe to toe battles with Garaj just edging it.
Ref Ryan Churchill scored it 39 to 37 Collins, I had it the same.
Dexter’s Thoughts
Dominant performance by Collins who seemed to take the final round off. Collins made his debut in December of last year so was not in my boxers to watch for this year but I can say without a doubt he is one to look out for not just this year but for the next few years. He is only nineteen and you can already see the talent and at the moment he is in one of the hottest divisions in boxing and as it would be an idea to push him to take on the top light Heavyweights at the domestic level, I think he should have a few more fights this year and maybe go for an area title but I can see Collins contesting for the bigger domestic titles in 2025/26. He is truly a great talent and I can see him going far but at the age of nineteen, he has time to learn his trade and take his time. He is definitely one to watch for the future.