Ex-Premier League Star Brutally Knocked Down By ‘UK’s Hardest Man’

An unlikely crossover between football and influencer boxing delivered a dramatic moment on Saturday night as a former Premier League defender stepped into the ring against social media personality Big Stacks, aka the UK’s Hardest Man, at Misfits Boxing.

The four-round contest took place at London’s Copper Box Arena on the 10th of October, forming part of the undercard for the headline bout between Joey Essex and Dapper Laughs. The match-up pitted an experienced professional sportsman against a self-proclaimed street fighter who had already tasted victory in the Misfits ring.

Big Stacks, whose real name is Charlie Richard, had built his reputation around his ‘UK’s Hardest Man’ persona. His opponent, meanwhile, had spent years battling elite footballers on the pitch, but was entering unfamiliar territory, having taken the fight at short notice with only around four weeks of boxing preparation.

The contest’s defining moment arrived in the third round.

Ex-Premier League Star Knocked Down in Boxing Debut

Big Stacks managed to put his opponent down, delivering a significant setback just as the fight was approaching its closing stages. The knockdown left the debutant needing to gather himself quickly, with the referee’s count threatening to turn a competitive contest into a decisive victory for the more experienced boxer.

Despite being floored, the former footballer showed considerable determination to get back to his feet and continue. He appeared to beat the count and was able to see out the remainder of the round, refusing to let the knockdown end his night prematurely.

The moment underlined the challenge facing someone making the transition from professional football to boxing. Strength, fitness, and competitive experience can provide a foundation, but timing, defensive positioning, and the ability to absorb punches are different skills altogether.

Rather than folding after the knockdown, though, the debutant continued into the fourth and final round, demonstrating the resilience that had helped him earn respect during his sporting career. Big Stacks, however, had done enough to make the knockdown a major factor in the judges’ assessment.

The former Premier League footballer in question and in the middle of the ring was, of course, former West Ham United and Aston Villa centre-back James Collins.

The 43-year-old Welshman, nicknamed ‘Ginger Pele’, had also represented Wales 51 times during a distinguished football career. His move into Misfits Boxing was an unexpected new chapter, even if it ultimately did not produce a victory.

‘UK’s Hardest Man’ Wins Via Decision

When the final scores were announced, Big Stacks was awarded a split-decision victory. The judges scored the contest 39-36, 37-38, and 38-37, giving the influencer the win despite one official favouring Collins.

Collins, therefore, left his boxing debut without the result he wanted, but surviving the third-round knockdown and reaching the final bell ensured his first appearance in the ring was far from forgettable.