Collins ready for 'sink or swim' return after pain of missing title shot

It can be the making or the breaking of a fighter's career – how do you respond to adversity?

That question can come during fights when the tide is turning against you. In a wider sense, it comes when your career trajectory suddenly hits a road block.

Young heavyweight star Moses Itauma is facing that crossroads after his shock defeat to Filip Hrgovic, and Scotland's Nathaniel Collins finds himself in a similar position as he prepares to face England's Liam Davies in Birmingham on Saturday.

'The Nightmare' was ideally placed to kick on for the recognition at world level he desperately craves after an impressive dismantling of countryman Lee McGregor at Glasgow's Hydro in May 2025.

The next step on the road was a shot at the European featherweight champion Cristobal Lorente at Braehead last October. Collins dominated the first half of the fight but, after expending energy trying and failing to find the finish the home crowd was baying for, he allowed the tough Spaniard to come on strong in the latter stages to claim a draw.

The rematch at the Hydro in April was a WBC world eliminator, with Collins just one win away from the title shot he was chasing. Despite putting Lorente down in the sixth round, Collins lost a split-decision on the judges' scorecards.

It was the first defeat of his career and one that has forced Collins into something of a reset.

"I feel like the Llorente fights taught me to slow down," Collins tells BBC Scotland.

"Enjoy the camps, enjoy the process and enjoy the training rather than thinking, 'Oh, this is a slog'.

"This time I've just felt happy, and it sounds stupid to say, but happy when I'm training, happy when I'm just cutting about. I've kind of reverted back to living a normal life and then full training rather than thinking of this as a job.

"I feel a weight's been lifted almost from the Llorente fights. It was a loss and it is what it is. It's moved me back a wee bit, but I feel like it's done me the world of good as a person.

"And I've just flung myself back in at the deep end and it's going to be a sink or swim. So, we'll see what happens."

Davies has rebounded from a November 2024 loss to Shabaz Masoud to beat Kurt Walker and Francesco Grandelli.

Both aged 30, Collins and Davies know time is not on their side to rebuild again for another crack at reaching the world stage.

Having enjoyed the backing of his Glasgow support in his last three fights, Collins is unfazed at now being the away fighter as he looks to deliver the victory that would reignite his career.

"I kind of prefer the away day and the pressure is not on me, the pressure is on somebody else," he said.

"Although I love the Hydro and the fans were amazing, it's good to be down here with not all that on your shoulders. With that being said, after I get this dealt with, I do want to come back home.

"I'm not expecting anything other than Davies bringing it. I've watched him, I've sparred with him. So, I feel like it will be pretty much full on.

"I feel like if I try and go in there and just go for it, then that's not the way to go. I've learned that from that Llorente fight.

"l'll have patience, do the right thing at the right moment, and everything will come together."