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Steve Collins joins Carl Frampton in Cannock

Carl Frampton will share the mic when he comes to Bar Sport in Cannock after fellow Irish world champion Steve Collins was added to the night's line-up.

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Reigning WBA 'super' featherweight boss Frampton is the next big attraction in the Premier Suite on Thursday March 2,

writes Craig Birch.

He will be joined by Collins, who won WBO titles at middleweight and super middleweight, at the top table to be interviewed by a third world champion.

Telford's Richie Woodhall, who once held the WBC strap at super middle, will pose the questions during the duo's question and answer session in his regular role as host.

Also returning to the venue will be Irish comedian Mike Cash, who raised laughs supporting Barry McGuigan in Cannock last November.

The McGuigans will again be represented this time out, with Barry's son and Frampton's coach Shane accompanying 'the Jackal.'

McGuigan Jr will also bring tales with him of how the feud between David Haye and Tony Bellew is reaching breaking point.

He will be in Haye's corner for the fight, which takes place two days later. A press conference, which erupted into violence between the two last time, is scheduled for the Thursday morning.

Frampton has ring action before his Cannock date, too, as he's due to defend his crown against the man he beat for the title, Leo Santa Cruz, in a war to settle the score on January 28.

The two will go toe-to-toe at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in the United States, after Frampton's majority points victory last July.

The Premier Suite will host the fight, too, with a live screening in the early hours of Sunday morning. Entry is £5.50, which includes a breakfast served at 3am. Tickets must be pre-booked.

Win or lose, the 29-year-old from Belfast is already a history maker, after becoming the first Northern Irishman to win world titles in different divisions.

He never lost the WBA or the IBF super bantam belts, either, relinquishing both when he decided to step up a weight.

Jonathan Guzman and Yukinori Oguni have since held the IBF honours, while mandatory challenger Guillermo Rigondeaux was awarded the WBA 'super' bauble.

Frampton has still yet to taste defeat after 23 pro contests, all victories with 13 coming inside-the-distance. He was made an MBE in the 2016 New Year Honours list.

He silenced Scott Quigg in his last outing at super bantam last February, taking his WBA standing with a points win after an eagerly-anticipated contest.

A sell-out crowd at the Manchester Arena and Sky Sports Box Office viewers looked on live, with Quigg suffering a broken jaw in the process.

It was a third successful defence of the IBF title from Frampton, who climbed off the floor twice against Alejandro Gonzalez Jr the previous time to roll over him unanimously.

He also halted Chris Avalos in the fifth round to keep hold of the belt, which he won from Kiko Martinez unanimously in a September 2014 rematch.

He also ousted Martinez by TKO in nine for the European crown, after acquiring Commonwealth and British Celtic titles. McGuigan Snr still serves as his manager.

Collins, 52, hails from Dublin in the Republic and is remembered for his never-say-die attitude, which established him in two divisions after becoming a world champion at the third attempt.

The never-stopped 'Celtic Warrior' twice came second best on the cards for the WBA middleweight title, to Mike McCallum and Reggie Johnson.

His prospects looked bleaker after he was downed for the European crown on points, too, by Sumbu Kalambay directly after the Johnson setback.

The determined Collins finally realised his ambition in 1994, seizing the WBO middleweight strap in five from Chris Pyatt, who had vanquished Kalambay for the vacant belt.

He would never defend the title, though, instead stepping up to super middle to sensationally thwart Chris Eubank unanimously for another WBO crown.

It ended Eubank's final reign as a world champion and Collins proved it was no fluke by defeating him again on a split decision.

Collins would also end the career of Eubank's hated rival Nigel Benn, who would twice try to dethrone the Irishman without success.

First 'the Dark Destroyer' was halted in the fourth after picking up an ankle injury, but he retired for good in 1996 after quitting on his stool at the end of the sixth the second time around.

Collins also defended the title against Cornelius Carr, Neville Brown, Frederic Seillier and Craig Cummings. Burton's Brown, who attended the McGuigan night, has been invited again.

Collins' last fight was against Cummings in 1997 and he retired while still champion, having backed out of taking on a young Joe Calzaghe. He'd registered 36 wins from 39, with 21 TKOs.

He'd spent years chasing a super-fight with Roy Jones Jr, who is still active today. Collins, as recently as 2013, was talking about coming out of retirement to face him.

Funnyman Cash, once described by Bernard Manning as "one of the best comedians I have come across," completes the attractions.

Tickets are on sale now, starting from £50. The 'platinum' option includes a seat in the main function room and four-course meal.

A 'silver' pass is £85, with the same benefits plus a professional photograph with either Frampton, Collins or both. 'Gold,' at £175, allows entry to a meet and greet beforehand.

For more information and to book places for the show, get in touch with Bar Sport directly by calling 01543 572 092.

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