Cristobal Lorente and Nathaniel Collins Fight to a Split Draw in Glasgow

Cristobal Lorente remains the European featherweight champion after battling Nathaniel Collins to a split draw in a high-octane 12-round clash aired live on DAZN.

The bout was razor-close throughout, with several rounds difficult to score. After a fierce and competitive contest, the judges returned split verdicts: 115-113 to Lorente (Eric Butel), 115-113 to Collins (Hugues Hellebaut), and a deciding 114-114 draw (Antonio Marogna), allowing the Spanish champion to retain his title.

While Lorente welcomed the idea of running it back — “Of course, let’s go,” he said post-fight — Collins was far from convinced by the result.

“No way that was a draw,” the Scotsman said. “There were close rounds. He might have caught me with shitey wee jabs but it was nothing. Even with the rounds I decided to take off and recover, he did nothing.”

Collins started fast, establishing his southpaw jab early and landing straight lefts to the body to try and sap Lorente’s energy. Eager to impress and prove his world-level credentials, he pushed a high pace from the outset.

After a difficult opening, Lorente began to find his rhythm by the fifth, landing left hooks and gradually growing into the fight. Collins appeared to briefly hurt him in the sixth, sparking wild exchanges that thrilled the crowd.

The Barcelona-born champion, 29, showed grit and determination, absorbing Collins’ attacks while responding with two-handed flurries of his own. In the ninth, Lorente fired back with uppercuts and body shots, drawing an animated response from Collins’ corner between rounds.

As expected in a championship bout, both men raised their tempo in the final rounds. Lorente, drawing on experience and stamina, matched Collins’ energy to keep the contest on a knife’s edge.

At the final bell, both fighters embraced and raised their arms, convinced they’d done enough. In the end, neither man claimed victory — but neither tasted defeat.

Lorente, now 20-0-3 (8 KOs), continues his reign as European champion, while Collins, suffering his first non-win, moves to 17-0-1 (8 KOs).