GUYS DO ME A FAVOUR, IF YOUVE GOT 2 SPARE MINUTES AND READ THIS Its been 20 years since Welsh boxer Steve Robinson won the world title and here we take a look back at how it all happened. They made a film out of the original ‘Cinderella Man’ Russell Crowe starring as 1930s world heavyweight champion James J Braddock.But it’s a moot point whether Braddock’s tale is actually a better story than that of Steve Robinson, Wales’ own ‘Cinderella Man.’Hollywood has not come calling in the 20 years since Robinson transformed himself from part-time shelf stacker into a world champion at 48 hours notice. But his story is no less remarkable for that; how on April 17, 1993 Robinson went from a £52 per week Debenhams storeman to Wales’ first boxing champion for 25 years.It is a tale of bouncing back from hard knocks, accepting an opportunity in life and making the most of your talent.In Robinson’s case it is also be careful of what you eat, especially if it is pie and chips! For it was the supper which almost scuppered Robinson’s date with destiny after WBO featherweight champion Ruben Palacios was stripped of his title after failing a HIV test.The call went out to find an opponent to meet England’s John Davison for the vacant title – and Robinson’s name was some way down the list.But one by one the names were scratched off and Robinson – possessor of a modest record having lost nine of his 23 contests – was offered £12,000 to take the fight.The problem was that it was only 48 hours from the first bell and Robinson was busy tucking into a rather unhealthy meal when his trainer Ronnie Rush rang to deliver the news.“I was at my mother-in-law’s house and I’d just finished pie and chips when I got the call,” recalls Robinson. “When I was told it was a world title fight I said I wouldn’t be ready, but Ronnie said I could go for 12 rounds.“I was always naturally fit, so I thought why not? And I thought if I lost it would be to a world champion.“I’d seen Davison a few times and he was the kind of guy I was looking for in my next fight anyway.“I had to lose about six or seven pounds – the pie and chips had done me no favours – and I had to dry out, but I was a natural featherweight and the weigh-in was on the afternoon. “I did a couple of runs, some shadow boxing and the weight dropped. I felt a bit drained, but I was OK.” Robinson flew to Newcastle for the fight, but it was still on a wing and a prayer. Davison had lost only three times in his career and had the backing of the entire ‘Geordie Nation’ behind him. He was also in peak condition after preparing to meet the tough Colombian Palacios.He was the hometown fighter – I’d lost a few hometown decisions in my career – and the entire crowd was against me,” said Robinson, now 44, but still super-fit and seemingly little over his fighting weight as he aims to train a future world champion.“But I just blocked the crowd out and went for it, in the end it was just me and him in the ring. “It was a tough fight but I won the first six rounds clear. I was boxing well and he couldn’t get near me. “It got hard in rounds seven, eight and nine but then I wasn’t really training for a 12-round fight at the time.“I don’t know how I got through it but I dug in deep and had a good last round.“I knocked his gum shield out and almost knocked him out, but I was so tired I couldn’t finish him. “I’ve watched the fight back a few times, I think I won it by three or four rounds but they gave it to me by one round.“The great thing was that everyone knew I’d won it. No-one booed in the end, I was cheered.” Robinson’s Debenhams days were over (though he would return to the Cardiff store to show staff his belt) but this most grounded of individuals was never one to party.Instead of trawling the bars and clubs of Newcastle’s Bigg Market and Quayside, the Welshman piled into a mini-bus with his dozen supporters and headed for home“I was on a high afterwards and there was plenty of champagne flowing,” he said.“But I’m not a drinker, I had a sip but no more. I could have come back by plane but I went home on the bus with my supporters – all 12 of them!“All the time I was looking at the belt and thinking ‘Did that just happen?’ I couldn’t keep my eyes off it. “My life changed. Until then I had been ‘Steve Robinson, boxer.’ Now I was ‘Steve Robinson, world champion.“The reaction was amazing. I was constantly being invited to functions and stopped in the street by people wishing me well.” Robinson’s reign as champion, however, was expected to be brief. Boxing commentators insisted he would be exposed at world level but the National Ice Rink soon became his fortress on nights charged with emotion and pride. Wales had not boasted a world champion since the days of Howard Winstone and Robinson was determined to show he was no one-hit wonder. “Winning the belt made me a better boxer,” said Robinson, who would make seven successful seven title defences at the Ice Rink from July 1993 to July 1995.“Everyone thought me winning the title was a fluke but I proved them all wrong and just kept saying ‘Next victim.’“I beat ex-world champions like Colin McMillan and Duke McKenzie and I was a big underdog in those fights.“But Paul Hodkinson was my best performance, he brought the best out of me and I reacted to it. I think it was the night people realised I was a world-class fighter.“Deep down I feel I should have got a bit more credit, but I was happy with what I was doing.” Legal issues and disenchantment with the sport kept him out of the ring for nearly a year, defeat to Billy Hardy for the European title swiftly followed. But he then produced an unbeaten 11-fight stretch which saw him claim WBO inter-continental and European featherweight titles. “Now my ambition is to train a world champion at Steve Robinson’s Boxing Gym.”Well that, and find a copy of the Davison fight.]“I had a tape but I mislaid it and I’ve got to try and get a copy,” he said. Now that really would be a fairytale ending for the ‘Cinderella Man.’
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 17:59:34 +0000
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