Like most, Zak Miller expected Nathaniel Collins to produce a career-best showing and anoint himself as Scotland's next star with an impressive win over Cristobal Lorente in October.

His former foe turned regular sparring partner was boxing swimmingly through five rounds, but didn't 'do a job on him' and instead settled for a draw against the European beltholder in their October 4 main event at Braehead Arena.

As The Ring reported last month, they'll run it back in the second quarter of a 2026 calendar hoping for more clarity among the world's top-ranked featherweights.

Bruce Carrington boxes Carlos Castro on 'Ring 6' at the end of the month for the WBC strap vacated by Stephen Fulton in the wake of his listless display against O'Shaquie Foster on December 6.

Nick Ball will make the fourth defence of his WBA title February 7 against Fulton's former foe Brandon Figueroa (26-2-1, 19 KOs) while IBF champion Angelo Leo awaits news after new mandatory challenger Ra'eese Aleem trumped original plans.

WBO champion Rafael Espinoza (28-0, 24 KOs) is similarly awaiting news on his next bout after The Ring's top-ranked divisional contender breezed past Arnold Khegai in a happy November 15 homecoming.

Unification talk has remained just that between contemporaries, though sustained British success within the weight class over the last decade has allowed some to anticipate what the future holds.

Enter Zak Miller (17-1, 3 KOs), who is little more than two weeks removed from a must-win matchup against another divisional newcomer in Liam Davies.

It felt like just yesterday, Davies (17-1, 8 KOs) was bulldozing his way through the junior featherweight class and calling Naoya Inoue's name for a shot at undisputed status against The Ring's No. 2 pound-for-pound operator.

"All this talk about world level, you only have to look in Britain: Ball, Collins, me, Davies ... you never know how far away you are, it could be right around the corner with one or two more wins so you've got to stay ready, mentally and physically," Miller tells The Ring.

Collins was calling Ball's name for an in-house world title matchup and while the Liverpudlian would rather swerve that in favour of a crack at the Carrington-Castro winner next — assuming he beats Figueroa — that scenario has given others food for thought.

"It's remarkable what Collins has been able to do, especially after the tragic injury [life-saving twisted bowel surgery] he had," Miller said. "As far as studying my future opponents, I leave that to my team and just focus on me. I have to be selfish and continue getting better, if I'm in the best possible shape and have got myself ready, I'll be fine come fight night."

On the topic of punditry, which Miller did during the Collins-Lorente fight week and a few times prior last year, it allows insight many observers rarely get an opportunity to see — even if just briefly.

"I enjoy it," he said. "It develops your profile, you get seen more, it's an avenue to look at after boxing. If you know what you're talking about, it helps the public view different insights they might not otherwise see. They believe you as you've been there, done it and got the T-shirt."