In May, former undisputed super lightweight champion, Josh Taylor, returned home to Scotland for what would prove to be the final fight of his storied career. In front of a passionate crowd, Taylor was out hustled by Ekow Essuman and lost a decision.

On the undercard, Bearsden’s Nathaniel Collins (17-0, 8 KOs) produced an outstanding display to stop former British and European bantamweight champion, Lee McGregor, in the fourth round of their all-Scottish featherweight clash.

Last week, Taylor announced that a persistent eye issue had persuaded him that the time had come to call time on his tremendous career.

Scottish boxing is looking for a new standard bearer and former British and Commonwealth 126lb champion, Collins, has earned the chance to prove that he is capable of taking the banner from Taylor.

On October 4, the 28-year-old southpaw will fight Spain’s European featherweight champion, Cristobal Lorente (20-0-2, 8 KOs), at Glasgow’s Braehead Arena. DAZN will broadcast the event globally.

With Collins ranked at No.2 by the WBC and Lorente sitting at No.12, the fight will also have serious world title ramifications for the winner.

“I always remember, the guy I got brought up with was Ricky Burns,” Collins told The Ring. “He would headline the SSE Arena constantly and he was a household name. He's still a household name if you know your boxing in Scotland.

“To me, that's an inspiration. If I can be the guy that starts headlining these sold-out Scottish events, that would be phenomenal. It's always been a dream of mine to get more eyes on boxing in Scotland.

“I hope - touch wood - everything goes to plan that way. Obviously, I'm gutted for Josh because he's a massive inspiration as well. He's done everything there is to do.

“It's a shame but I'm just really, really glad that he did get the opportunity - even though it wasn't the result he wanted - to have his last fight was there in Scotland because it's selfishly set up the platform for me.”

Collins and Lorente do have a common opponent.

Just a couple of weeks before he was rushed into hospital for his life saving surgery, Collins overcame a badly broken nose to outpoint the tough Italian, Francesco Grandelli.

Seven months later and whilst Collins was working his way back to full health, Lorente also outpointed Grandelli to successfully defend his European title.

Apart from beating Grandelli, Collins has proven himself time and time again at domestic level.

His wins over Jacob Robinson, James Beech, current British and Commonwealth champion, Zak Miller, and McGregor are the type of tough, character building fights that any British fighter has to win if they are to move on to European level and beyond.

He believes that that solid grounding will pay rich dividends against Lorente.

“The only question for me is the level of opposition he's been in against,” he said.

“I know he's boxed Grandelli as well. He's boxed Mauro Forte. But it seems to be that he's only boxed Spanish or Italian fighters from that region without there being many names.

“Then, obviously, he just got that draw against the guy that was 8-0 [Ruben Gil], which a lot of people - I’ve heard - thought the 8-0 guy won. I don't know how it's going to go.

“All I'll do is the same thing I do every time. I’ll prepare for 12 hard rounds. If it can go earlier than that, then let's hope so.”

Collins is a smart counter puncher with excellent timing and quick reflexes but, at the highest level, it is crucial that a fighter also has the power to at least make an opponent consider the consequences of launching an attack and he has proven that he has the firepower to finish solid opposition.

His first appearance under the Queensberry banner ended in just 24 seconds when he knocked out Raza Hamza with a looping right hook.

McGregor’s demise started with a perfectly picked short left hand and Collins barely wasted a punch in bringing the fight to a conclusive end.

He will be giving away almost four inches in height to the Spaniard but the two have been linked in the past and Collins has already identified some potential areas of success.

“I just think he'll approach it the same way he’s approached every fight that I've seen him in so far,” he said.

“He seems to be aggressive, front foot. He is tall, but he looks like he wants to fight as well. Let's hope that is how he approaches it.

“I don't think he's got the skill set to approach it any other way. In my opinion, he'll be walking on to big shots all night or as long as it lasts.”