Steve Robinson - & His Son

[Counter-puncher]

Vargas was a level above Hodkinson that night IMO, Hodkinson huffed and puffed and scuffled away but the accumulation of damage, and who'd really been winning the fight, was clear from the way Hodkinson eventually 'unravelled' (IE, it wasn't actually that sudden and shocking, as he was eating shots from Vargas hungrily all night).

Yes Hoko was shipping punishment throughout but he was landing as many heavy shots on Vargas as he was taking, they just didn't have the desired effect and Hoko couldn't keep walking on to shots like he was all night, underrated fight and well worth a rewatch

Hoko landing as many heavy shots is an overstatement for me. in terms of shots that really snap the head, i can remember maybe one or two.

[littlepug]

Yes Hoko was shipping punishment throughout but he was landing as many heavy shots on Vargas as he was taking, they just didn't have the desired effect and Hoko couldn't keep walking on to shots like he was all night, underrated fight and well worth a rewatch

My memory of that fight is that it looked fairly even when suddenly Vargas went up about 20 gears and looked superb.

But I haven't seen it since the night so

I've seen it about 6 times as I love watching Vargas and found it a masterclass

*condescending comment, apologies* but the commentary was very pro Hodkinson, was applauding some fairly ineffective work from him, like I say scuffling, where Vargas was timing sweetly all night.

Kinda remember the commentary being like that although seem to recall Jim Watt was wary of Vargas before he had even thrown a punch

[Counter-puncher]

My memory of that fight is that it looked fairly even when suddenly Vargas went up about 20 gears and looked superb.

But I haven't seen it since the night so

I've seen it about 6 times as I love watching Vargas and found it a masterclass

*condescending comment, apologies* but the commentary was very pro Hodkinson, was applauding some fairly ineffective work from him, like I say scuffling, where Vargas was timing sweetly all night.

Kinda remember the commentary being like that although seem to recall Jim Watt was wary of Vargas before he had even thrown a punch

You're totally right, it was one of those when Jim decided just by looking at the way vargas moved around the ring that he really knew what he was doing

of course on that occasion he was right, Vargas looked like, maybe not a million dollars but a good 500,000 of anyone's money, that night. not sure he ever really shone that way again- in my opinion Hoko's straight-forward style and short arms, dubious head movement (he gradually forgot to bob and weave as every fight wore on and he got a bit fatigued) were absolutely made for Vargas's style.

but yeah the reason I'm so dogmatic about this fight is my memory was the same, Hoko did really well etc, but the first time I rewatched it I saw a totally different fight, just in terms of the quality of what was landed, so much of Hoko's was glancing or not perfectly timed, in terms of shots that really snap the head back he hardly landed any.

there's one moment, Vargas kindof freezes a little, to bait Hoko in and as Hoko throws the lead right Vargas just casually sways inside it and absolutely buries this nasty right uppercut about half a foot into his gut, with a whipping left hook immediately following it up, vargas just looked so casual and in control, that moment summed the fight up for me, I think I rewound it about 6 times the first time I saw it.

[Taansend]

Yes Hoko was shipping punishment throughout but he was landing as many heavy shots on Vargas as he was taking, they just didn't have the desired effect and Hoko couldn't keep walking on to shots like he was all night, underrated fight and well worth a rewatch

My memory of that fight is that it looked fairly even when suddenly Vargas went up about 20 gears and looked superb.

But I haven't seen it since the night so

I've seen it about 6 times as I love watching Vargas and found it a masterclass

*condescending comment, apologies* but the commentary was very pro Hodkinson, was applauding some fairly ineffective work from him, like I say scuffling, where Vargas was timing sweetly all night.

I remember thinking Vargas was going to be a major star after that bout. But he never won another major bout after that although he did have a few decent wins, including outpointing the great Gary Balleto

[Counter-puncher]

My memory of that fight is that it looked fairly even when suddenly Vargas went up about 20 gears and looked superb.

But I haven't seen it since the night so

I've seen it about 6 times as I love watching Vargas and found it a masterclass

*condescending comment, apologies* but the commentary was very pro Hodkinson, was applauding some fairly ineffective work from him, like I say scuffling, where Vargas was timing sweetly all night.

I remember thinking Vargas was going to be a major star after that bout. But he never won another major bout after that although he did have a few decent wins, including outpointing the great Gary Balleto

yeah, he beat, uh, Ben Tackie at 140lbs, tracy harris patterson at 130lbs i think.....

[paddy chavez]

I think I remember Robinson giving around £250,000 to a charity

[Dirk Kelly]

Great thread. Enjoyed reading about all these fights I’ve never seen.

[Mimmy]

Mimmy, Paul Hodkinson was miles ahead in the first Villasana fight and he was also well ahead against Vargas. As for Duke McKenzie against Mark Hargreaves, Duke was merely using Hargreaves as a loosener prior to his crack at Steve Robinson, which if anything made him even more dangerous. You are too severe on Robinson. You say that shrewd matchmaking helped him along but Robinson was hardly a protected fighter. He should be applauded for turning back John Davison, Hodkinson, McKenzie, Freddy Cruz and other solid contenders as WBO champion (Even Sean Murphy ranks as a dangerous fighter in my book).

Bennie its not harsh words at all I have applauded Steve Robinson, it was a great achievement what he did, At the time The WBO title was regarded the 4th best in the world, and lets be honest more British fighters than any other in the world proberly fought for it.

I cant remember who the other world champions were at the time but Robinson never attempted to add another version to his. All I am saying is dont get carried away with the word 'World Champion'

I'm not 'dissing' Steve Robinson at all, i'm just looking at the whole picture.