Nathaniel Collins Envisions Himself at the Forefront of Scottish Boxing’s Revival

When you think of a Scottish boxer, you might picture someone stern-faced and gritty. Nathaniel Collins? Not quite. The 29-year-old featherweight contender brings a smile and a laid-back vibe, even as he prepares for a huge European title and world title eliminator showdown against Cristobal Lorente this Saturday at Glasgow’s Braehead Arena.

Sitting down in tartan pyjamas for his interview, Collins laughs off the tough-guy image, calling himself “not the most manly guy” and “just up for a laugh.” Unlike some of his Scottish heroes, like the tough-as-nails Scott Harrison, Collins’ nickname ‘The Nightmare’ only kicks in when he’s in the ring or training.

“I don’t walk out thinking I’m anything special,” he says. “It only comes out when I’m boxing or training. Outside the ring, I’m like a big jessie.”

Yet beneath the easygoing exterior is a fighter with serious mental strength, forged through both the sport and life’s toughest challenges. In May 2024, Collins faced a life-or-death moment when a twisted bowel forced him into emergency surgery. Many athletes would have been broken by the ordeal, but Collins embraced the recovery.

“It wasn’t that hard for me. I had 12 weeks just being a partner and a dad. We got a camper van, saw Scotland, I loved every minute,” he recalls. “As soon as I could move, I was running, cycling 100-mile rides, and back in the gym.”

With Josh Taylor’s retirement earlier this year, Scottish boxing lost its biggest star. But Collins has been stepping up as the new standard-bearer. He made a statement in May by stopping Taylor’s close friend Lee McGregor in the fourth round — a fight that felt like an old-school east versus west Scottish clash.

The pair even bumped into each other by chance just a week later in an airport, showing the friendly rivalry that exists beneath the fierce competition.

Collins is part of a promising new generation of Scottish fighters, with talent flooding gyms like the one run by Joe Ham Sr. and Jr. alongside him. He highlights young stars such as amateur Leo Church but notes the challenges many face.

“The biggest problem in Scotland is the drinking and party culture. A lot of talented guys don’t get past that stage. It’s not about getting them to love boxing; they already do. It’s about staying focused.”

Collins himself was never tempted. “I don’t like the taste of beer. I was always focused on boxing. I moved around a lot, so I never really needed to fit in or chase friends by going out drinking.”

With his laid-back personality and growing achievements, Collins is now carrying the hopes of Scottish boxing. The success of fighters like Josh Taylor, Carl Frampton, and Joe Calzaghe has shown the weight of expectations on Celtic fighters — but also the potential for unforgettable nights on the world stage.

“The magic of boxing being such a huge sport in Scotland has faded a bit,” Collins says. “When Scott Harrison, Willie Limond, and Ricky Burns were around, people couldn’t wait to get to boxing nights — it was a night out for everyone. We lost some of that during Covid, but we’re clawing it back.”

Like Taylor before him, Collins dreams big: “I want to fight in America. The guy I’m always linked with is Nick Ball, the WBA champion — an all-UK thing. But if I had to pick, it would be the WBC title. Get a big fight in the States — that’s the dream.”

With his smile, focus, and gritty resilience, Nathaniel Collins is not just Scotland’s ‘Nightmare’ in the ring — he might just be the key to bringing back the buzz to Scottish boxing.