Paschal Collins reflected on one of the most memorable upsets in heavyweight boxing history as he prepares to guide Alen Babic against Johnny Fisher. Babic, a 33-year-old from Croatia, enters the bout as the underdog against Fisher at London’s Copper Box Arena. The perception is largely due to Fisher’s size and reputation as a powerful puncher.

Collins, based in Dublin, is no stranger to overcoming odds, having played a pivotal role in Kevin McBride’s career-defining victory over Mike Tyson in 2005. McBride, then 34 years old, faced Tyson amidst expectations of a routine victory for the former undisputed heavyweight champion. However, under Collins’ guidance alongside boxing luminaries like Goody Petronelli, McBride executed a game plan that defied the odds.

“We had a tough training camp,” Collins recalled. “We focused on conditioning and a specific strategy based on Tyson’s previous losses. The night before the fight, we even watched ‘Cinderella Man,’ which became eerily prophetic.”

The bout itself, held at the venue packed with Tyson supporters, saw McBride withstand Tyson’s aggressive tactics, including headbutts and low blows. As the fight progressed, McBride’s resilience and strategic clinching wore down Tyson, culminating in a pivotal moment in the sixth round when Tyson was deducted points for a deliberate headbutt.

“By the end of the round, Tyson was visibly fatigued,” Collins recounted. “Even Tyson’s trainer signaled to the referee that their fighter couldn’t continue.”

The referee waved off the fight, declaring McBride the winner by technical knockout. It was a landmark victory that reshaped McBride’s career and stunned the boxing world.

Collins’ experience with McBride serves as a testament to the unpredictability of boxing and the potential for underdogs to seize victory against all odds. As he prepares Babic for his upcoming challenge, Collins draws on this historic upset as inspiration and proof that with the right preparation and strategy, anything is possible in the ring.