WBO super middleweight champion Steve Collins appears to be on course for a £2 million summer showdown with Nigel Benn.

Despite Benn losing his WBC crown to Thulane "Sugar Boy" Malinga, the two are contracted to fight and Manchester's 16,000 seat Nynex Arena in June looks the likely venue and time.

South African Malinga was at ringside at the Green Glens Arena, Millstreet, on Saturday to witness Collins' 11th round stoppage of Neville Brown in his third title defence.

But Collins firmly believes the warrior instinct in Benn will lure him back to the ring after he emotionally announced his retirement.

"Nigel knows he didn't prepare properly for the Malinga fight. He shouldn't retire after that loss when he looked terrible," said the 31 year old Dub liner.

"When Nigel faces me it will be a great fight. When he was champion I begged him to fight me but he wouldn't. Now I am offering him the opportunity."

Malinga, whose number one challenger is Yorkshireman Henry Wharton also threw down the gauntlet to Collins.

"Steve should fight me, not a beaten fighter like Benn, and I'll take him on in Ireland.

"But my world doesn't revolve around Steve Collins and Henry Wharton. There are plenty of other options.

Collins was quick to accept the South African's challenge, but also said he would like to tangle with American IBF champion Roy Jones.

He added: "I'll take on Sugars Boy and there will only be one winner. I'm ready to walk through Benn and Malinga if the money is right.

"As for Roy Jones, he is a plastic champion who has been hyped up by the Americans out of all proportion."

Collins was quick to praise the challenge of British middleweight champion Brown, who gave him a bruising test without really looking as if he could quell the Irishman's intense aggression.

The champion said: "He surprised me because after the second round I thought he was gone. But he hung in there and took a lot of stick. Once he went toe to toe I knew I'd catch up with him."

But after flooring Brown in the first and second rounds, Collins could not finish the job until the penultimate three minutes, sending the challenger to the canvas once more.

Although Brown got to his feet, an immediate flurry led to Puerto Rican referee Ismael Fernandez signalling the end.

Collins said: "I go with the flow - it gives the fans plenty of excitement. When they were roaring me on I just loved it. I had actually gone for the knockout in the first round but it didn't happen."