He's not British, but he was a colourful - and world class - fighter of the 80's, who did actually fight in Britain when representing Young America against Young England in London in 1979 as an amateur. He handed out a brutal beating to Bradford's Craig Walsh that night.
Blake, 41, now works as a police officer with the Odessa Police Department in Odessa, Texas, but often thinks back to the years when he was one of the top young boxers in the world. And he had to be good. He used to wear pink shorts in the ring.
"I boxed because I loved it and I enjoyed it. But as soon as I got my license to be a cop, I put those gloves in a box, and they've been there ever since," he says.
Retirement from boxing came at age 28.
Where are they now: "Rockin' Robin" Blake
Blake was a strong, hard-punching white southpaw who took the lightweight division by storm in the early Eighties and looked a natural opponent to another brave and aggressive white fighter of that era, Ray "Boom Boom" Mancini. But, like Mancini, Blake's style was never conducive to a long career and he was unlucky not to get a shot at Ray in in the early Eighties when both men were blazing on all guns. A world junior champion in 1979, Robin reeled off 22 straight wins in the pros, including a 10th round knockout of Ruben Munoz in a big all-Texas showdown, a sensational nine round win over Tony "The Tiger" Baltazar in a battle of big punchers in 1983 and another big win over Melvin Paul. He then had the misfortune to run into a classy, switch-hitting mover in Tyrone "The Butterfly" Crawley and was outsped over 10 rounds. That setback preceded another points loss at the hands of the equally slick-boxing Harry Arroyo. These were all world class men he was fighting.
Blake regrouped and earned himself a crack at Jimmy Paul for the IBF lightweight title in 1986. Blake looked made for the counterpunching Paul, who fought out of Kronk, but the Texas southpaw got stuck in from the off and pushed Paul all the way. In the event, the champion's solid counters wore down the challenger and forced a stoppage in round 14, but it was a gritty, worthy display by Blake.
Robin moved up to light-welter but his best days were now past him, even though he was still a relatively young man. He was outpointed by Meldrick Taylor and stopped by Harold Brazier. He retired in 1990 after being stopped in seven rounds by Nika Khumalo.
I remember reading that Blake was suffering from headaches towards the end of his career and it's good to hear he's doing okay. You often worry for these heart and soul types after they quit boxing. Sometimes they've got nothing else. Blake has pulled through.
Blake regrouped and earned himself a crack at Jimmy Paul for the IBF lightweight title in 1986. Blake looked made for the counterpunching Paul, who fought out of Kronk, but the Texas southpaw got stuck in from the off and pushed Paul all the way. In the event, the champion's solid counters wore down the challenger and forced a stoppage in round 14, but it was a gritty, worthy display by Blake.
Robin moved up to light-welter but his best days were now past him, even though he was still a relatively young man. He was outpointed by Meldrick Taylor and stopped by Harold Brazier. He retired in 1990 after being stopped in seven rounds by Nika Khumalo.
I remember reading that Blake was suffering from headaches towards the end of his career and it's good to hear he's doing okay. You often worry for these heart and soul types after they quit boxing. Sometimes they've got nothing else. Blake has pulled through.
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MightyWarrior
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 13262
- Joined: 23 Jan 2003, 14:01
Yes Blake was a great fighter for awhile, looked like a future star after that run of excellent wins you mention bennie - sort of the Arturo Gatti of his day for awhile: every fight a war.
His very brave management seemed to pick the wrong fights for him and his career burnt out much too fast. Good to hear he's ok these days.
Got me thinking about another white slugger of the same era, Darren "Schoolboy" Van Horn. Remember him?
Not as good fighter as Blake maybe, though he did manage to win a couple of titles and held them briefly.
Just looked at his record and see he retired after 6 wins in the mid 90's.
I wonder why that was - must've been the right decision but it's usualy hard for fighters to just give up like that, without a resounding defeat. ( though Barkley had blasted him before those 6 wins )
And what he's up to these days...Any ideas??
His very brave management seemed to pick the wrong fights for him and his career burnt out much too fast. Good to hear he's ok these days.
Got me thinking about another white slugger of the same era, Darren "Schoolboy" Van Horn. Remember him?
Not as good fighter as Blake maybe, though he did manage to win a couple of titles and held them briefly.
Just looked at his record and see he retired after 6 wins in the mid 90's.
I wonder why that was - must've been the right decision but it's usualy hard for fighters to just give up like that, without a resounding defeat. ( though Barkley had blasted him before those 6 wins )
And what he's up to these days...Any ideas??
I remember that the news wasn't great with Van Horn, MW. I don't know the exact details, but let's just say he dished out plenty in his exciting career but took a lot as well. He had to retire on health grounds.MightyWarrior wrote:Yes Blake was a great fighter for awhile, looked like a future star after that run of excellent wins you mention bennie - sort of the Arturo Gatti of his day for awhile: every fight a war.
His very brave management seemed to pick the wrong fights for him and his career burnt out much too fast. Good to hear he's ok these days.
Got me thinking about another white slugger of the same era, Darren "Schoolboy" Van Horn. Remember him?
Not as good fighter as Blake maybe, though he did manage to win a couple of titles and held them briefly.
Just looked at his record and see he retired after 6 wins in the mid 90's.
I wonder why that was - must've been the right decision but it's usualy hard for fighters to just give up like that, without a resounding defeat. ( though Barkley had blasted him before those 6 wins )
And what he's up to these days...Any ideas??
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MightyWarrior
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 13262
- Joined: 23 Jan 2003, 14:01
Never mind Goz, I'm sure it's been worth itGoz wrote:S'funny, I recall Jimmy Paul clearly, I was intrigued by the Kronk gym in the mid-eighties, but I don't recall Blake. The memory being dulled by hundreds of pints of Stella over the years is taking it's toll.
Don't worry I have the same problem.......what were we talking about again?Blake's fights were never show on Brit tv, I had a few videos of him though.
I doubt Jimmy Paul was ever on UK tv for that matter - he was an excellent fighter in his prime. I remember him nailing a flashy red hot fighter called Alvin ( Too Sweet...something! ) who'd breakdance his way to the ring in sunglasses 8)
Paul took him apart and left him hanging over the middle rope - it was brutal.
Alvin Hayes. On the Hearns-Duran undercard in June '84. It was a huge win for Jimmy. Incidentally, he saved his money from his boxing career and invested it in several properties in Detroit. He now makes plenty of dosh renting them out.MightyWarrior wrote:Never mind Goz, I'm sure it's been worth itGoz wrote:S'funny, I recall Jimmy Paul clearly, I was intrigued by the Kronk gym in the mid-eighties, but I don't recall Blake. The memory being dulled by hundreds of pints of Stella over the years is taking it's toll.
Blake's fights were never show on Brit tv, I had a few videos of him though.
I doubt Jimmy Paul was ever on UK tv for that matter - he was an excellent fighter in his prime. I remember him nailing a flashy red hot fighter called Alvin ( Too Sweet...something! ) who'd breakdance his way to the ring in sunglasses 8)
Paul took him apart and left him hanging over the middle rope - it was brutal.
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MightyWarrior
- Heavyweight
- Posts: 13262
- Joined: 23 Jan 2003, 14:01
The Jimmy Paul fights I recall are his defeat of Harry Arryo (spelling?) to take the title and a tussle with an Oriental chap. That was 15 rounder I seem to remember. Paul missed out on some really big fights at Lightweight against Bramble, Rosario, Camacho and Rameirez.
He lost to Greg Haugen in a tough fight and was never the same after that, Haugen went onto the series with Pazienza.
Glad to hear Paul is doing ok after missing out on all those potentially rewarding fights.
Just checked his record, looks like he attempted a comeback in 1999, won a 6 round decision.
He lost to Greg Haugen in a tough fight and was never the same after that, Haugen went onto the series with Pazienza.
Glad to hear Paul is doing ok after missing out on all those potentially rewarding fights.
Just checked his record, looks like he attempted a comeback in 1999, won a 6 round decision.
He did really well on his comeback. He went on an unbeaten run, licked Todd Foster and secured himself a crack at the vacant WBO light-welterweight title against Mexico's hard-hitting Carlos Gonzalez, who stopped him in a couple of rounds. Paul then retired for good. But I'm sure he made enough money to buy a couple more houses.Goz wrote:The Jimmy Paul fights I recall are his defeat of Harry Arryo (spelling?) to take the title and a tussle with an Oriental chap. That was 15 rounder I seem to remember. Paul missed out on some really big fights at Lightweight against Bramble, Rosario, Camacho and Rameirez.
He lost to Greg Haugen in a tough fight and was never the same after that, Haugen went onto the series with Pazienza.
Glad to hear Paul is doing ok after missing out on all those potentially rewarding fights.
Just checked his record, looks like he attempted a comeback in 1999, won a 6 round decision.