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In much less welcome news than Froch/Kessler II, former world champ Steve Collins has today announced he is getting back in the ring, and he will fight Roy Jones Jnr.

Sometimes news breaks that baffles you and the breaking story that Steve Collins (48) is getting back in the ring after 14 years is just one of those. After some very vague rumours last month it now seems a very unlikely comback is on.

The former WBO middleweight and super middleweight champion, who last fought in 1997 and who retired two years later, told Richard Keys and Andy Gray on talkSPORT today that he has a fight lined up with one of the all-time greats, American Roy Jones Jnr.

“It’s not a comeback as such, at my age I’m too old for that, but it will be the end of a 15-year grudge.

“It’s a fight Roy Jones needs. He claims to be one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters around but he refused to fight me.

“I was very happy with my career, but the one fight I wanted was Roy Jones, and when that didn’t happen I retired. To me he was afraid of me. I don’t think he’s a coward, but at the time he was!

“But now it’s happening. I spoke to Roy and we’re going to get it on. He wants one more fight before he retires and this is the one he wants. If we get a good offer we’ll split it down the middle and get it on.”

At one time Jones, now 43, was considered the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Now, after drifting up from middleweight to heavyweight he has lost three of his last five bouts, including one to a man that turns 48 today, Bernard Hopkins.

As for when this bout would take place, it sounds like sooner rather than later.

“I would like 10-12 weeks to get ready,” said Collins. “In my mind I already see how that fight goes and I can see the outcome. I feel like I’ve never been away. I’m looking forward to it.

“This is still a match. We’re the same generation. I wouldn’t even consider fighting as guy 15 or 20 years younger than me, because that’s not a match. But we’re the same age and this is affair match. It won’t be any different to how it would have been 15 years ago.”

And as for a venue?

“I’d love the fight to be in the UK but there is interest from Dubai, Russia, China," said Collins. "Dubai looks the favourite, but we’ll have to see where the offers come from.

“Hopefully we’ll get an offer that’s suitable for us both and we get it on. It will give all old-timers some hopes!