NEW YORK CITY (February 19, 2024) –“One Night In Millstreet,” starring now retired boxers Steve “Celtic Warrior” Collins and Chris “Simply The Best” Eubank, will make its United States premier on March 7^th, starting at 7 p.m. ET,  in association with Craic Fest 2024, at Village East Cinema in Manhattan, New York.

“One Night In Millstreet,” directed by Andrew Gallimore and written by Lydia Monin, is a boxing documentary about the 1995 world title fight on St. Patrick’s Day weekend in the countryside town of Millstreet, Ireland, between popular Irish fighter Collins (28-3) and defending champion Eubank (41-0-2), of Great Britain, following weeks of their intense pre-fight appearances and press conferences to promote their world title fight.

“Steve Collins embodies the spirit of what Craic Fest is all about,” Festival Manager Terence Mulligan said.

The documentary, which co-stars Hall of Fame Irish boxer Barry “The Clones Cyclone” McGuigan and legendary British promoter Barry Hearn, revolves around the period in which Ireland was emerging from an economic depression towards an unprecedented boom.

Collins captured the World Boxing Organization (WBO) World Super Middleweight title from unbeaten, defending champion Benn by way of an exciting 12-round unanimous decision (117-113, 114-112 X 2), much to the overwhelming delight of passionate hometown fans. Collins won a rematch the following September, taking a 12-round split decision from Eubank.

Born in Cabra, Ireland, Collins lives in Dublin, and he retired from the ring in 1997 as WBO World Super Middleweight Champion with a 36-3 (21 KOs) pro record, making six successful title defenses, including two versus Nigel Benn. Eubank retired a year later with a 45-5-2 (23 KOs) record. Both Collins and Eubank were two-division WBO world champions having also been middleweight title holders.

Collins and Gallimore will attend the U.S. premiere in New York City and be available to answer questions after the screening. “One Night In Millstreet,” presented by Powers Irish Whiskey, will host an afterparty at Solas Bar (9^th St.).

Attendees must RSVP online at https://www.theCraicfest.com and be 21 or older.

“I can confirm that I have made a formal application for a boxing licence with the British & Irish Boxing Authority. I refute the claims that I re-applied for a licence with any other accredited sanctioning body (as has been stated in the press). Therefore, I have not been refused a licence as alleged. It is my decision to box again (although may be seen by some as ‘controversial’). However, unlike many boxers, I have continued to maintain my fitness and healthy lifestyle since my last fight with Steve Collins. 

I acknowledge the risks associated with the sport, and fully understand the importance of being fully assessed by medical professionals. Therefore, I’ve welcomed the requirements of BIBA to clearly establish that I AM ‘fit to box’. I have undergone numerous and regular medical investigations to confirm this, including periodic MRI brain scans. Now that I’m in the UK, within the next few weeks I have welcomed (at the request of BIBA) a further series of tests – including another MRI brain scan to provide clear clarification of my state of health. BIBA are also facilitating additional safeguarding at ringside for my fight (which far exceeds the criteria of any other sanctioning organisation).

My desire to box again is something that has remained within me for several years… It is MY choice alone, and I’ve not been persuaded or coerced by any other person. I feel like that I am being discriminated against because of my age.  I can also confirm that I have chosen to fight an opponent who is a renowned former world champion in his own right. The challenge that I’ve set myself is high. This IS a tough challenge, but one that I feel I need to pursue to bring about final closure and an inner peace of mind for myself as a man. It’s NOT about the money, it’s about closing a desire that remains within my mind, body and soul. This is my dream, and I hope boxing fans around the world will embrace my wishes, and support and respect the fact that this is my decision alone.”

The last time England and Ireland met in the the boxing ring with a World middleweight title on the line was 21 years ago when Steve Collins and Chris Pyatt clashed, now the two nations reignite their rivalry with the potential thriller between Billy Joe Saunders and Andy Lee on Saturday 19th December at the Manchester Arena.

Leicester puncher Pyatt, then the reigning WBO World Champion, lost the title to Dublin hardman Collins, who himself previously lost in two world title attempts, on a fifth round stoppage to finally achieve his dream of becoming World champion on 11th May 1994 at Sheffield’s Ponds Forge Arena.

The same belt will be on the line, now held by Limerick’s dynamite punching Lee, when he makes the first defence of the belt against his mandatory and undefeated challenger from Hatfield, in one of the most important fights in the 160lb division in recent years.

Straight after the Pyatt victory, Collins moved up to super-middleweight and defeated rival Chris Eubank, twice in a row, followed later by back-to-back victories over the Dark Destroyer Nigel Benn in epic encounters before retiring as undefeated world champion in July 1997.

Collins believes the winner of Lee and Saunders can go on to huge blockbuster fights in the division that holds stellar fighters Gennady Golovkin, Miguel Cotto and Saul Alvarez, plus Daniel Jacobs and Peter Quillin, who’s fights all feature exclusively live on BoxNation.

“When I beat Chris Pyatt to become WBO World Middleweight champion it was like a key to the super fights, to the Eubanks and Benns, which made my name, but that fight against Pyatt was absolutely crucial for me to win otherwise those big fights wouldn’t have happened,” Said Collins.

“It was a dream come true when I beat Pyatt, who was a great fighter in his own right, and I knew that I had to KO him to win, he was a tough man, but for me he was the ticket to the big fights. If I’d have lost he’d have gone and fought Eubank and Benn and I’d have been out of the picture. That’s pretty much how Lee and Saunders can look at it, it opens up even more big fights for the winner,”

“Saunders and Lee have got everything to fight for, there are some massive fights ahead for them. Obviously Golovkin is king right now and we haven’t seen the likes of him for a long long time, he’s the best right now. There are great fighters like Cotto and Alvarez, so the winner out of Lee and Saunders is going to have a field day. Back in my day there was Benn and Eubank who I beat twice each, but it created a great rivalry, the only one who didn’t get involved was Roy Jones Jnr. who stayed his side of the pond,”

“The current 160lb division is a very exciting place and it’s one of the best in boxing right now. This fight It’s like going back to the good old days in the division. It has the potential to be a great, great, fight. Both men have the ability to win. If it goes the distance Saunders can win, but Lee can win by stoppage. Whatever, it’s going to be exciting.”

Tickets are priced at £40, £50, £75, £100, £200 and £300 are available from

www.frankwarren.com

TicketMaster
0844 844 0444
www.ticketmaster.co.uk

Eventim
0844 249 1000
www.eventim.co.uk

Manchester Arena
0161 950 5000
0161 950 5229 (disabled access bookings)
www.manchester-arena.co.uk

*Tickets are subject to a booking fee.

The Channel Of Champions, BoxNation, will televise the show live and exclusive on Sky 437/HD 490, Virgin 546 and Talk Talk 415. Subscribe at www.boxnation.com Or watch online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android.

LONDON (19 FEB) Former world champions Steve Collins and Richie Woodhall will cast their expert eye over Saturday’s (February 21) WBA Super world middleweight title fight between Gennady Golovkin and Martin Murray as part of Channel 5’s star-studded fight night team.

Collins and Woodhall will join Mark Pougatch in the studio, while Dave Farrar and respected American fight personality Al Bernstein provide commentary in Monte Carlo.

No stranger to big fight nights, Irishman Collins is a former WBO middleweight and super-middleweight champion who twice defeated both Chris Eubank and Nigel Benn. He retired in 1997 with a professional record of 36-3 and was renowned for his toughness, aggression and hard-nosed approach to his craft.

Woodhall, meanwhile, was a former WBC world super-middleweight champion who boxed a number of quality, world-class fighters over the course of a ten-year professional career. He retired in 2000 with a 26-3 record and has since gained a reputation as one of Britain’s finest fight pundits and commentators.

*** Boxing superstar Gennady ‘GGG’ Golovkin defends his WBA Super world middleweight title against Britain’s Martin Murray on Saturday, February 21 in Monte Carlo, LIVE on Channel 5 (10 PM) ***

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