Ex-Town defender to fight ‘UK’s Hardest Man’ in shock boxing debut

Former Ipswich Town defender James Collins is set to make his boxing debut on a Misfits Boxing card. The 43-year-old will fight internet personality Big Stacks, who bills himself as the 'UK's Hardest Man,' at London's Copper Box Arena on October 10. Collins stepped in as a replacement after former Apprentice star Thomas Skinner withdrew from the bout for undisclosed reasons.

Collins, who retired from professional football in 2020 following a brief spell at Portman Road, becomes the latest ex-Ipswich player to enter influencer boxing. Separately, former Ipswich players David Norris and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas are scheduled to take part in the 'A Night to Remember III' charity boxing event at London's Grosvenor House Hotel on October 22.