Steve Collins vs Frederic Seillier

On February 8, 1997, the London Arena in Millwall, London, hosted a significant boxing event as Steve Collins defended his WBO World Super-middleweight Title against French contender Frederic Seillier. The fight was part of Frank Warren's "Up Close and Personal" promotion and was broadcast on Sky Sports Box Office. Collins, known as the Celtic Warrior, entered the bout with a record of 34-3-0, while Seillier boasted a more extensive resume of 43-6-3. Both fighters weighed in at 167½ lbs, setting the stage for a closely contested match.

However, the fight did not unfold as many might have anticipated. Collins, who had been on a remarkable run since claiming the title from Chris Eubank in March 1995, started the bout slowly. Despite his low-intensity performance, Seillier was unable to capitalize on the champion's sluggish pace. The French challenger faced significant adversity as he suffered two nasty cuts during the fight—one on his nose and another on his left eyebrow. These injuries ultimately proved decisive, as the ringside doctor advised referee Joe Cortez to stop the fight in the fifth round at 2:20.

The stoppage victory marked Collins's sixth successful defence of the WBO super-middleweight title. It was a testament to his resilience and ability to adapt in the ring, even when not at his best. Collins's performance against Seillier highlighted his strategic approach to boxing, often relying on his experience and ring generalship to outmanoeuvre opponents. This fight was also notable for being one of Collins's final title defences, as he would make just one more defence against Craig Cummings before retiring from professional boxing.