Does anyone remember the 'King of the canvas' Robert Harper

[palooka]

Robert 'King of the Canvas' Harper was a super middleweight in the mid 1990's. He boxed all over the country and his record was perfect; no wins and 19 losses.

Did anyone ever see him in inaction?

[pyenest77]

I saw him box Lee Blundell in Bury. He was pretty awful I agree. But suppose he has more balls than most of us for getting in the ring.

[palooka]

I would never knock him and he's a pal of mine. I wanted to see what others thought of him; lots of the posters are very honest and forthright with their opinions. (Blundell was the very first southpaw that rob had either fought or sparred; he was really out of his depth against a very capable lad).

[Teddy's Toupee]

I saw him box at York Hall. He lost on points but I remember the M.C saying he'd took the fight at 24 hours notice. I imagine that happens a lot with journeymen fighters, they turn up expected and expecting to lose. Saying that he looked an awkward fellow to catch cleanly with punches.

[SexySouthPaw]

He was a tough kid ,I saw him a few times in Birmingham,I remember him fighting a kid called Paul Webb and the one of the tabloids picked up on it ,billed as the worst two fighters in Britain.The fight eneded up as a no contest,ironic really!
I believe he did some time for stalking too! so I am not sure it was having "Balls" more of a case of being a "Nut" case,balls and nuts ,nuts and balls whatever!

[reggaereggae]

Wasn't another thing was that he was a former private school student?

[SexySouthPaw]

He was a tough kid ,I saw him a few times in Birmingham,I remember him fighting a kid called Paul Webb and the one of the tabloids picked up on it ,billed as the worst two fighters in Britain.The fight eneded up as a no contest,ironic really!
I believe he did some time for stalking too! so I am not sure it was having "Balls" more of a case of being a "Nut" case,balls and nuts ,nuts and balls whatever!

Just out of interest, why was the fight deemed a no-contest?

Basically both of them were disqualified for unruly behaviour so it was declared a NC.

[Jeff Thomas]

Respect where it's due- and to any true fighter it's due

[palooka]

Wasn't another thing was that he was a former private school student?

Was he a toff? A wealth creating toff?

[Pugilist-specialist]

Wasn't another thing was that he was a former private school student?

I hadn't heard that one. If correct it led to his job in an abbattoir.

[palooka]

It is true he had a privileged upbringing but he's not a stalking nut case

[Teddy's Toupee]

Apparently he went to Westminster school a few years behind Nick Clegg, the deputy Prime Minister, and his parents disowned him when he decided to box as a professional as they didn't want to financially support his adventure, and wanted him to go into a career in the law like his father, a successful Q.C. It sounds far-fetched but I have it on good authority from a fellow he used to train with, Kasi Kaihau. Does anyone remember seeing Kasi boxing? Now he was a tough kid. :geek2: