Championship Ambitions and Unexpected Turns in European Boxing

The Long-Awaited Featherweight Championship Bout: Lorente vs. Collins

The stage is now set for a compelling featherweight encounter in October, as the reigning European champion, Cristobal Lorente, prepares to face his mandatory challenger, Nathaniel Collins. This championship contest, facilitated by Queensberry Promotions, has been a subject of anticipation within the boxing community for some time.

Previous Engagements and Path to the Title Shot for Collins

The path to this October showdown was not straightforward. Initial plans for the title defense to occur in Barcelona, Lorente's hometown, were altered when Collins engaged in a different significant bout. He successfully defeated his fellow Scottish fighter, Lee McGregor, in May, securing a decisive victory within four rounds and solidifying his position as a formidable contender for the European featherweight crown.

Lorente's Recent Performance and European Boxing Union News

Following the re-routing of Collins' challenge, Lorente himself stepped back into the ring for a title defense against Ruben Gil. This bout, held on July 5, concluded in a majority draw after all twelve rounds, a result that adds an intriguing dynamic to his upcoming fight with Collins. In related news from the European Boxing Union (EBU), a proposed European 'silver' heavyweight championship match between Germany's Granit Shala and Denmark's Kem Ljungquist has been called off. The cancellation stems from EBU's policy not to recognize European champions from other sanctioning bodies, as Shala currently holds a WBA European belt.