Scotland’s Nathaniel Collins is ready to turn Saturday night at Braehead Arena into his personal coming-out party. The unbeaten featherweight isn’t just chasing the European title — he’s treating this as a launchpad toward a WBC world title shot. At Thursday’s press conference inside the Glasgow Science Centre, both men fired their last verbal shots before stepping on the scales Friday and into the ring Saturday.
“I feel amazing, as always, nothing has really changed from the rest of my fights and preparations,” Collins said. “I am always looking to make a statement, every time I go out so, yeah, Saturday is no different.”
Collins Says It’s Bigger Than Just Europe
Collins doesn’t care about the shiny continental strap as much as the opportunity it represents.
“For this fight all I have seen is people saying Nathaniel is challenging for the European title, European is the next step,” he said. “Not once in this camp have I thought about the European title at all. All I have thought about is that it is a world title eliminator.”
He’s studied Lorente, but he isn’t losing sleep over him. “He is obviously good to be European champion. He is awkward, but it doesn’t really matter. It doesn’t matter what he brings because I’m going to bring what I bring.”
And Collins doesn’t buy the talk about Lorente being the smarter technician. “From what I gather he is saying he is a more intelligent or tactical fighter. I don’t believe that and I don’t think he believes that. I read an article he or his coach did saying they think I am tactical and intelligent and so forth, so he will need to be at his best. That is what they are saying. But obviously we are at the press conference so you need to say something. I am going to make a big statement to the rest of the world after Saturday night, the same way I did last time. My name is going to be up in lights again.”
Lorente Shoots Back: “This Is My Moment”
Spain’s Cristobal Lorente, the current European champion, didn’t bring fireworks to the mic — but his warning was clear.
“Simple and easy, I will do my best in the ring on Saturday night,” Lorente said. “Do my best to bring out the work I do at the gym. I have been waiting for this moment of my life and for my career and this is my moment to shine.”
Lorente trusts his ring IQ to be the difference. “I am considered a tactical fighter. I have a lot of skills to stay good in every moment of the fight. If they are going to work, I will beat this work inside the ring. If they fight an intelligent fight, I am more intelligent than him. I will do an intelligent fight.”
And he believes Collins’ team picked the wrong man to face. “Really I think they have made a mistake with this opponent and I will show him on Saturday night in the ring.”
From the Corner:
Collins talks like a man who knows this could be his ticket to the big time, but Lorente isn’t just handing over his belt. The Scot’s got the energy, the city behind him, and he wants the world stage bad — but Lorente’s no filler opponent. He’s slick, tricky, and has that quiet confidence of a guy who’s been under the lights. If Collins can impose his pace and keep it sharp, he’s got a real shot to make the jump. But if he walks in wild, Lorente might make him pay and snatch the shine right back.
All this talk about world titles when you ain’t even fought real world level fighters yet? Collins needs to slow down and respect his opponent first before dreaming too big 😒.
True! People forget that a European champ like Lorente ain’t no joke. He already at a high level while Collins still proving himself.
@Tracy30 yep! You can tell when someone gets ahead of themselves and that usually don’t end well in boxing 🤷♀️
Collins keeps saying he’s gonna make a statement but saying stuff and doing it are two different things. If Lorente is smarter, which I think he is, then Collins might be in big trouble.
Why Collins acting like the European title don’t matter? That’s disrespectful to the sport. You gotta earn your way up, not just skip past belts like they mean nothing 😡.
Collins thinks just cause he’s Scottish and fighting at home he’s got this in the bag. That ain’t how boxing works. Lorente been training for this moment his whole life and he gonna show it.
I don’t get why people think Collins is gonna win easy. Just cause he talks big doesn’t mean he can back it up. Lorente has the belt for a reason and that means something 🥊.
Exactly! People always fall for the loudmouths who talk big. Lorente is quiet but focused, and that’s more dangerous than someone running their mouth all week.