Nigel Collins: “Much anticipated and highly lucrative fights often turn out to be artistic failures…..Boxing won’t die because we’ve had another”

Nigel Collins is one of the most respected boxing journalists in boxing. He was recently announced as being part of the 2015 boxing Hall of Fame class, and will be inducted along with boxers Riddick Bowe and Ray Mancini in June. Collins was the former editor-in-chief of ring magazine and currently works as an analyst for ESPN.

I recently was afforded an opportunity to interview Nigel Collins and get his thoughts on his career and the current boxing landscape. Nigel discussed how he found his way to the sport and how he ended up working for The Ring magazine. Nigel also talks about the 24/7 coverage the sport now has and shares his thoughts on the recent Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight. Additionally Collins talks about the future stars of the sport and how he thinks today’s best fighter would do against the best from the past. Here is what Nigel Collins had to say.

Robert Brown: Can you tell us a little bit about your history in boxing, what attracted you to the sport and what your first job in boxing?

Nigel Collins: My father and grandfather were boxing fans and passed their love of the sport on to me when I was boy. Fighters such as Ray Robinson, Archie Moore and Joe Louis were spoken of with great reverence and affection in our household. Before I was old enough to drive, my father and I often went to the fights, usually at the old Philadelphia Arena, which burnt to the ground decades ago.

I became friends with promoter J Russell Peltz after his first promotion and, in the early 1970s, he helped me get the position as The Ring correspondent for Philadelphia and pre-casino Atlantic City.

Robert Brown: Can you tell the readers about becoming the editor of The Ring, the most respect boxing publication ever, and what place that holds in your life?

Nigel Collins: In 1984, after more than decade as of freelancing, Bert Sugar gave me my first full-time position as an assistant editor at The Ring. Bert was fired about four months after hiring me, and Randy Gordon took over. Gordon was fired after less than a year later, and I became editor-in-chief with the January 1985 issue.

Working for The Ring was a wonderful opportunity and I’m very proud of what I accomplished over the decades. There were good times and bad, of course, but the job itself was extremely rewarding.

Robert Brown: With the advent of social media and the 24 hour news cycle, is there still a place for print journalism in today’s society?

Nigel Collins: I love print journalism. It’s what I did for most of my career, but if you don’t move with the times, you’re doomed. I don’t think you can turn back the calendar. There’s still a role for print but it’s so very expensive, it’s a limited one. I still buy print books instead of electronic versions, but as time passes, people like me are becoming a rare breed.

Robert Brown: How are you enjoying being an analyst and the head social media contributor for ESPN?

Nigel Collins: Working for ESPN has been great. I’ve never been treated so well as I am at ESPN. They like and respect me, which is a lot more than I can say of several of the companies that owned The Ring. The TV and social media stuff is very enjoyable, but my main passion is still writing. Currently I’m writing two columns a month for ESPN’s boxing website and also contribute to the British weekly, Boxing News.

Robert Brown: What were your thoughts on Mayweather vs. Pacquiao? Combined with the aftermath, did this fight improve or damage boxing’s reputation among mainstream fans in particular?

Nigel Collins: It’s not like the NSAC told Manny, if you’re injured you can’t fight. In the end, the commission allowed a fighter who admitted he had an injury to fight, but without the benefit of approved, non-performance-enhancing meds. Where’s the logic in that? Much anticipated and highly lucrative fights often turn out to be artistic failures. Felix Trinidad-Oscar De La Hoya and Mayweather-De La Hoya are recent examples of the all-too-familiar dilemma. Boxing won’t die because we’ve had another, and no, it wasn’t the last.

Robert Brown: Given that Pacquiao went into the fight with a shoulder injury, would you like to see a rematch, and do you think there will be one?

Nigel Collins: Mayweather is a marvelous boxer, and although Manny may have done better without the shoulder injury, once was more than enough for me. Floyd has been extremely successful with his style, but if it wasn’t for the fact that covering him is part of my job, I doubt I would watch him box very often.

Robert Brown: Muhammad Ali was brash and arrogant, and after a turbulent period in the 60’s, America and indeed the world, loved him. The same with Sugar Ray Leonard, who was also confident and sometimes arrogant in his own way. Why can’t America take Mayweather in its arms the same way it took Leonard and Ali?

Nigel Collins: Clearly, millions of Americans do love Mayweather. His pay-per-view sales, even before the Pacquiao fight, have been the best in the business. On the other hand, his fighting style and personality is not to everybody’s liking.

Robert Brown: Who are the stars that will take boxing forward after Mayweather and Pacquiao?

Nigel Collins: The top candidates to become the next pay-per-view superstars are Gennady Golovkin, Deontay Wilder and Sergey Kovalev — knockout artists one and all. Golovkin has proved the most so far and has the look of something special about him. But it’s the heavyweight, Deontay Wilder, who has an outside chance of changing the conversation more than any of the others.

Robert Brown: Which fights or fighters are you looking forward to seeing more of in the near future?

Nigel Collins: While I obviously look forward to seeing some fights and fighters more than others, my main focus is doing the best job I can covering them, regardless of my personal opinion. I have no control over what happens in boxing, but I have control over my work.

Robert Brown: How does it feels to be among the greats in the Hall of Fame? Where does this stand among your accomplishments?

Nigel Collins: There is no higher honor in boxing than being elected to the IBHOF, and to have a plaque on the wall along side of so many of my boxing heroes is terrific. Best of all is knowing that I never had to violate my principles to get there. I’m very much looking forward to Induction Weekend.

Robert Brown: How would Mayweather fair against prime Tommy Hearns, Ray Leonard and 135lb and 147lb Roberto Duran.

Nigel Collins: Leonard would have beaten Mayweather at 147 and Duran would have beaten him at 135. Even though he was very good after leaving the lightweight division, Duran was at his best at 135. Hearns would have good shot at beating Floyd at 147, but I’m not as sure as I am about Leonard at welter and Duran at 135.

Robert Brown: Any words you would like to pass on to boxing fans.?

Nigel Collins: Don’t believe the hype, good or bad. Think for yourself.