It was branded Britain’s most outrageous memorial – a £200,000 marble mega-grave complete with flashing lights, life-size statues, and even a jukebox and scannable QR code.
Now, five years after the death of bare-knuckle boxer ‘Big’ Willy Collins, the Daily Mail can reveal how his controversial 37-tonne monument has morphed into a vast family shrine – featuring Guinness cans, Dior aftershave and giant floral hearts.
The colossal tribute to Mr Collins – a father-of-nine known as ‘the King of Sheffield’ – was branded an ‘eyesore’ and a ‘monstrosity’ by furious visitors to the city’s Shiregreen cemetery when it was erected in 2022.
Council chiefs then ruled the audacious tribute was built without planning permission.
However, instead of being scaled back, Mr Collins’ ostentatious grave has since been accompanied by outlandish memorials to other departed members of the close-knit traveller clan.
His two brothers, Terry and Michael Collins, are buried alongside him with flamboyant tributes of their own.
Younger brother Terry, 52, died suddenly in September last year.
His send-off included a platinum coffin, fifteen horse-drawn carriages, a procession of Rolls-Royces and even a plane that traced a heart across the sky.
His grave, directly across from his siblings’ ornate monument, is similarly extravagant – surrounded by iron railings and featuring giant floral hearts, a biblical carving and a life-sized cut-out of Terry, fondly known as ‘The Toucher’.
Five years after the death of bare-knuckle boxer ‘Big’ Willy Collins, Daily Mail can reveal how his controversial 37-tonne memorial has morphed into a vast family shrine
It was branded Britain’s most outrageous memorial – a £200,000 marble mega-grave complete with flashing lights, life-size statues, and even a jukebox
Younger brother Terry’s grave, directly across from his siblings’ ornate monument, is similarly extravagant – surrounded by iron railings and featuring giant floral hearts, a biblical carving and a life-sized cut-out of Terry, fondly known as ‘The Toucher’
‘Big’ Willy Collins, pictured, was on holiday in Mallorca to celebrate his wife’s birthday in July 2020 when he collapsed and died aged 49
Brother Michael, 51, passed away just weeks later in December 2024.
His cortege featured another platinum coffin, a horse-drawn hearse and luxury cars and led to tributes being paid by boxing superstars Tyson Fury and Kell Brook.
Michael’s gravelled plot has its own touches, including vast blue floral wreaths, offerings of Guinness cans and a replica bottle of Dior Sauvage aftershave.
The three Collins brothers lay next to another large burial plot for a woman linked to the large traveller family, featuring four biblical statues and doves painted in gold leaf.
The controversial additions will do little to quell the long-running dispute between the family and Sheffield City Council, who said Mr Collins’s solid Carerra marble monument and two life-sized statues of the 6ft 2ins boxer was built illegally.
The Collins family have made clear they will not back down and previously threatened ‘war’ if the tribute was pulled down.
Mr Collin’s widow Kathleen, 52, previously said: ‘There have been vicious comments on social media from those who hate the traveller community and they have left the whole family feeling very hurt and angry.
‘People are threatening to pull the monument down or damage it while the council is saying we may have to change it, but if that happens, there’s going to be war.
‘It’s going to cause very, very bad riots if they take my husband’s headstone down.
Mr Collin’s widow Kathleen, 52, pictured, previously said: ‘I am warning the public and the council, don’t touch the beautiful monument we have put up to remember my darling Willy’
Kathleen added: ‘People are threatening to pull the monument down or damage it while the council is saying we may have to change it, but if that happens, there’s going to be war’
Mr Collins was on holiday in Mallorca to celebrate his wife’s birthday in July 2020 when he collapsed and died aged 49. PIctured: Michael and Kathleen’s wedding picture
The Collins family have made clear they will not back down and previously threatened ‘war’ if the tribute was pulled down. Pictured: Terry’s grave
‘I am warning the public and the council, don’t touch the beautiful monument we have put up to remember my darling Willy.’
She added: ‘There’s a lot of racism and jealousy involved because Willy was a famous traveller who was known all over Sheffield.’
Eldest daughter Mary, 31, added: ‘Any attempt to have us take this down would be fought legally as it would be a blatant matter of racism.
‘The council knew what we were doing. They signed it off.’
Mr Collins was on holiday in Mallorca to celebrate his wife’s birthday in July 2020 when he collapsed and died aged 49.
His burial in August 2020 attracted hundreds of mourners from the traveller community who watched his 22-carat gold coffin pulled by a white horse-drawn carriage.
Among those to pay tribute was boxer Tyson Fury, who wrote: ‘This is a RIP message to Big Willy Collins. God bless you, rest in peace.’
A QR code was installed last year on Mr Collins’ CCTV-protected memorial, allowing mourners to scan it to pay tribute and view photos of the larger-than-life character, who was said to have 400 nieces and nephews.
Pictured is Willy Collins with his wife Kathleen before his death. They met when she was 11
Sharing details of his rich life, Kathleen (pictured kissing Willy on holiday) described him as a charismatic ‘gentle giant’ who ‘loved peace’ and was also known affectionately as ‘Big Willy’
One of 16 children, ‘Big Willy’ was born in Ireland but moved to Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1980 and grew up in the Pitsmoor area
Following his death, all his sons got tattoos of Willy’s face
A town hall spokesman described the situation at the cemetery as ‘complex’ but admitted no enforcement action had been taken.
Sheffield City Council said: ‘There is currently no new information regarding the Willy Collins memorial.
‘This is a complex situation, and the council continue to correspond directly with the family or their chosen representatives until it is resolved.
‘The council will be sure to let local residents know when there is an update on this matter.’
In 2020, hundreds of mourners from the traveller community turned out to pay respects to Mr Collins during his extravagant funeral, where a white horse-drawn carriage carried his 22-carat gold coffin.
He trained at Brendan Ingle’s legendary Wincobank gym, where Herol ‘Bomber’ Graham also honed his craft. The gym later produced four world champions – ‘Prince’ Naseem Hamed, Johnny Nelson, Junior Witter and Kell Brook.
Many went on to post tributes following Big Willy’s death.
Tyson Fury said at the time: ‘This is a RIP message to Big Willy Collins. God bless you, rest in peace.’
The cortege also had 40 Rolls Royces, about 12 bikers and other vintage cars
Collins was a father-of-nine and all his younger relatives called him ‘Big Daddy’
Hundreds of mourners from the traveller community came to his flamboyant burial, where his 22-carat gold coffin was pulled by a white horse-drawn carriage
Hundreds turned out for the funeral, where a crown lay on a gold coffin. He was one of 16 children
The funeral of Mr Collins, in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, in August 2020
The headstone for the ‘King of Sheffield’ Willy Collins who died in 2020
Billy Joe Saunders added: ‘Rest in peace to a good friend of mine’s dad, Big Willy Collins. God bless you, my man, a gentleman. May God give you a good bed in heaven.’
Kell Brook said: ‘My condolences go out to Collins’ family. We used to see him at the gym training up there. A lot of respect for the family. Rest in peace.’
Influencer and boxer Tom Zanettitz wrote: ‘Very sorry to hear the news. My thoughts are with you all in this sad time. It may not seem like right now but it will get easier to cope in time.’
He later added: ‘I know he will be up there, shining down strength so you can all smile at the nice memories. Lots of love from me and mine to you and yours.’
