Collins and Lorente deliver a thrilling twelve-round thriller for the EBU featherweight title – both boxers retain their world championship chances after a split points decision.
In a high-class ring battle at Glasgow’s Braehead Arena, Scotland’s Nathaniel Collins (17-0-1, 8 knockouts) and Spain’s Cristobal Lorente (20-0-3, 8 knockouts) drew to a split decision on points – broadcast live on DAZN.
The featherweight fight, presented by Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions, had enormous sporting significance: Lorente’s EBU title was at stake, and at the same time the fight served as a WBC final eliminator for a possible world championship fight against Stephen Fulton. The three judges scored the match 115-113, 113-115 and 114-114 – a fair verdict after an intense duel at eye level. Collins started strongly, using his speed and jab to take control early. At half-time, the local hero appeared to be ahead on the scorecards, but Lorente, the reigning European champion, showed tremendous tenacity and fought back impressively with precise combinations.
The sixth round provided the biggest action of the evening, as both boxers landed heavy blows and had the audience on the edge of their seats. From then on, a real exchange of blows developed at the highest level, which remained tense until the last second. After the final bell, both fighters hugged each other respectfully – an expression of mutual respect after twelve rounds of pure ring warfare.
In the undercard, local hero Regan Glackin (16-1, 3 knockouts) suffered a bitter defeat in the lightweight division, losing to England’s Louie O’Doherty (11-0, 3 knockouts) by technical knockout in the tenth round in the fight for the vacant British title.