John Collins, West Tennessee Invitational Champion, District Jr. Olympic Gold Medalist, Regional Jr. Olympic Gold Medalist, Nashville’s Music City Invitational Champion, West Tennessee Mid-South Novice Golden Gloves Champion, and West Tennessee and Mid-South Open Golden Gloves Champion, will be inducted into the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame when the 36th event (2020 event not held due to COVID) is held at 6:30 p.m., April 14 at the Carl Perkins Civic Center.

WNWS.COM visited with John for a question and answer session to discuss his boxing career and life after boxing.

Question: First, a little background – where are you originally from, family, education, where are you employed and describe your position?

Answer: I am from Jackson Tennessee. I was raised by my mother, Janie Collins and grew up with three brothers – James, Eric and Darol – and one sister, Carol.

I received my education through the Jackson Madison County School system and graduated from Jackson Central-Merry High School in 1981. I attended Jackson State Community College for one year, then decided to focus more on my boxing career.

I’m currently employed with Toyota Tennessee (formally Toyota Bodine ) as a Die Cast Operator. I’m responsible for casting engine blocks used in Toyota’s and Lexus vehicles. I have been with Toyota for 12 years.

I have a beautiful family. My wife Valerie and I have been married for 34 years and we have three adult children; Dr. Jonathan Collins PhD, Assist Professor of Education at Brown University; Aliyah, who is working towards a Master Degree at Harvard, and Ananda, who is currently working towards a Masters at Syracuse University.

Jonathan’s wife, Dr. Crystal Collins, is also a professor at Brown University, and they have a beautiful baby girl name Breeze – my first grandchild.

Question: What were your thoughts when you were first told you had been selected for induction into the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame?

Answer: I was honored to be recognized and chosen for my accomplishments in boxing from my hometown.

Question: What motivated you to get involved in boxing?

Answer: In the seventh grade I became curious about boxing from a classmate who was on the Jackson Boxing Team. He invited me to come watch him train. It was there where I met coach Rayford Collins.

Rayford offered to show me (various) boxing techniques, in which I was surprised how fast I caught onto them. It was then that I decided this was something I wanted to do. I was inspired by the other boxers, such as the great Jackie Beard, Ricky Beard, Donald Bowers, Danny Tidwell and Darryl Fuller, who were all ranked as some of the best boxers in the United States. I wanted to be just as great!

Question: From your list of accomplishments, it’s obvious you had a pretty distinguished boxing career. Is there one event or boxing match that stands out?

Answer: It was an honor for me to represent my country and Jackson, Tennessee as a top 10 ranked boxer and travel and compete in international competitions in Europe that included such places as Germany, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Copenhagen (Denmark).

Question: Are you still involved in boxing, and what do you think the future holds for boxing in Jackson?

Answer: I have recently offered to help with mentorship, teaching and training young boxers with Obie Beard. Obie, who is also a Hall of Famer and teammate, has opened a new Jackson boxing gym with the hope of producing up and coming young boxers and putting Jackson, Tennessee back on the map.

Question: Can you give us an idea of what you will discuss when you deliver your induction speech?

Answer: As a young boxer, I had the desire and drive to be the best. I set goals, worked hard, remained dedicated and focused on my craft to be a champion.

John Collins, Tommy Dean, AJ Merriweather, James Parker and Jennifer Moore-Wilkerson are the newest members of the Jackson-Madison County Sports Hall of Fame.

For more information – tickets and reservations, call Beth Sedberry (731) 616-8558.

(PHOTO: John Collins)