Martin Power vs. Dale Robinson

[nickd]

Forgot the fight was on so been watching it out of the corner of my eye in the pub with the missus, you know like the Budweiser advert, "You're such a great listener"

I remember Martin Power as young kid at St Pancras for the couple of fleeting years I boxed there, quite pleased for him now.

Sounds like the fight was close, I wasn't watching it intently (had to pay some attention) but everytime I looked up it appeared Power was bashing the bollox out of Robinson.

When Power was young they used to run stories in the local paper about how they couldn't get a fight for him because he was so small but bloody good with it. He then had a decent (but losing) scrap(s?) with Stephen Foster Jnr in ABA finals, they had quite a rivalry....

It was pretty much back and forth round by round but Power finished stronger. Robinson was lucky not to get stopped the cut was one of the worst I have seen in a long time, it was caused by an intentional butt though.

Watt disgraced himself tonight. He praised Robinson throughout and picked holes in Power all through the fight. Sky need to get rid of him.

[Lefthookhappy19]

This is a different fight imo if Power hadn't stuck the head in. The fight changed from that point on. Robinson lost his rythm and he had to change his style. He must have been worried about it getting stopped. Very bad jagged cut, thats six months minimum. Terrible and very obvious headbutt.

[Goz]

Yes as you said before, Watt just seems to make his mind up about something early on and then that's it, tunnel vision.....

[nickd]

One thing he kept going on about was "Power is always the first one to break off the exchanges". A quick listen between rounds to Eames in the corner and he was telling him to use the ring and let Robinson walk onto the shots so that was all part of their plan.

Eames' corner work was excellent I thought, the best I have heard in a long time.

[Lefthookhappy19]

Yes as you said before, Watt just seems to make his mind up about something early on and then that's it, tunnel vision.....

Yeah, he wouldn't stfu on the Tito/Winky fight. Same thing, over and over and over and over and over and so on............. It was true Tito couldn't get past Winkys defence, but holy shit, he didn't have to tell us that every 5 seconds.

[mickeybeard]

Good fight, I had Power winning 115-114 so that would have been a draw with the wrongly called knockdown.

Hats off to both guys.

The wrongly called knockdown just evened out not taking a point away for a blatent butt. As every good football manager knows, "these things even themselves out over the course of [insert period of time here]".

I didn't bother scoring the fight as I was having a mooch on the sofa, but my general impression was that Power's shots had much more snap in the second half of the fight, and he looked the boss in there more often than Dale did.

Cracking fight. Gutted for Dale. I wonder whether Dale could still make Flyweight, because Power looked bloody big in there.

[boxerrob2005]

Disgraceful from Power. Really bad sportsmanship to headbutt like that. If it werent for that cut Robinson could of possibly performed better. I had Robinson winning by 2. I hope someone gives power a good beating in the future. as for the knockdown being a slip which it was, what goes around comes around. If your going to break the rules then you have got to expect something unfair to go against you.

[nickd]

On reflection Power can go pretty far I think. Although it was British title fight, Robinson has won Commonwealth and fought at some sort of world level so however you scored it I think it suggests Power can do alright at world level.

I think a couple of British title defences and then the Euro title would be good progress.

I'd love to see a rematch, but let Robinson get some wins beforehand, maybe fight for the Euro if one of them can get hold of it.

[KOJOE90]

Quality fight that was very enjoyable to watch, both fighters put up a great performance allthough Power was out of order with the headbutt as others have already said.

I actually had Robinson a winner 115-113 but some of the rounds were very close so I can see how others could have scored it different. It's a shame about the cut Robinson sustained as that obviously changed his game plan. It's also a shame he didn't/couldn't continue with the hooks to the body as the seem to hurt Power.

Power also impressed me as he showed he can go 12 hard rounds against a quality opponent.


Quality fight for a quality title, shame Sky seem more interested in IBO Intercontinebtal Interim Title fights.

[steve689]

Great fight, a little cracker, what with Castillo-Corrales, Trinidad-Wright and Morales-Pacquiao and a great little domestic dust up here this looks like being a great year, can't wait for Williams-Skelton and Hatton-Tszyu now! Anyway i didn't score the fight, it was too absorbing to pick a winner although i had the feeling Power had done enough, even though he looked knackered at times i just had a feeling he wasn't going to crumble and kept willing himself on round after round and looked stronger in the last two.

The cut clearly bothered Robinson and i think without it it would have been a different fight, i am tempted to call a rematch but i don't think that would be the best option for either straight away, i think they should stay away from each other and then fight again further on down the line. The cut was caused by a clear and intentional headbutt as well, i am not blaming the ref outright but i don't really like Paul Thomas as a ref anyway, i have seen him have a few off nights and the knockdown was not one either, a bit of a wrestle if that.

On the undercard it was nice to see Andy Morris back again and looking sharp at times, it's hard to gauge an opinion with rounds cut out but he seemed to pace himself well and the 10 rounds against a tough opponent like Rocky Dean will do him no harm at all. It was my first sighting of Gary Woolcombe as well, he loked very raw but it was a cracking hook to finish the fight. However his opponent Parkinson's defences were none existant. All in all a good night of Boxing.

[Manos de Oro]

Excellent sporting contest. It's a shame there has to be a loser because for fights like this one there should be a 'technical unanimous decision loss' verdict or something

Booth showed excellent ring generalship nearly all through the fight, mostly stealing the rounds by a mere few punches. Robinson elected to fight Booth in the middle of the ring for the whole fight, which I think dented his chances of success. Had he concentrated solely on body punching for the first 3 or 4 rounds I think he would have been able to cut Booth off easier as the fight progressed, perhaps really getting the chance to lay into him from round 8 or 9 onwards (maybe earlier depending how much these punches slowed Booth).

I also think Robinson should re-look at the way he retreats from inside. Too often the shots that won Booth the round came from his countering a Robinson in-attack were Dale stepped back with his hands held sometimes low, but mostly wide. Robinson showed class (not glass!) chin skills, and showed he had heart during the 11th and 12th.

I liked Booth's footwork, which maybe caused the extra bit of dig he mentioned he's feeling in the interview

Overall, excellent competative matchup between two highly skilled fighters. Belive it or not I'd rather watch this than a heavyweight hugfest anyday.

Remembered this post when watching last night's fight. Pretty much the same scenario - Dale doing himself no favours with the lack of body shots, getting caught with Power's right hand because he kept his hands too low retreating from inside, blah, blah.

Both guys showed phenominal workrate and neither deserved to lose, in my opinion. Wasn't too bothered with the knockdown situation, as Power's use of the head was irritating me - particularly that nasty one that opened up the cut. Paul Thomas did well to let it continue, but he should have picked up on the head-use a bit more: Power has it ingrained into his technique (maybe from his gypsy fighting experience?) so well, that it is hard to notice sometimes. I wondered also why Jim Watt never made more issue of it. Wonder why *cough*.

Power seemed an alright guy in the interview afterward. I don't often like it when hot-head beats cool-head, but props to Power for sticking out his first 12 rounder. Also, please post here Dale to let us know you're alright...

On the undercard, yet again we see Rocky Dean unable to plant his authority in a tough fight. Just couldn't see a way through, which wasn't really that surprising because you could tell Andy Morris had been a good amateur - going by the movement and punch variation. Both guys come out of it well - Dean has held a Southern Area title and challenged for the English title, while Morris is now the English champ, plus has a good future if he plants his feet a bit more and times his shots better - when the knockouts come.

Gary Woolcombe against Danny Parkinson was horrible to watch - could see the KO coming a mile away. Big respect to both Chris Aston, for jumping in straight away, and also to Gary Woolcombe for calming the crowd. Woolcombe looked better than the last time I seen him, which I think was a few weeks ago against Matt Scriven (but which doesn't appear on his boxrec record???). He looked calmer and more mature... but maybe that was because he could see the knockout within his sights - unlike the tight-guarded Scriven, who also rocked him.

[Lefthookhappy19]

Powers name to me is now totally soured. I could give a fornicate about ever seeing him again. I mean what the fornicate? He opened up massive jagged gash on Robinson with a brutal headbutt! That to me totally changed the entire fight. Robinson was fighting in a nice rythm landing bodyshots that where going to take their toll later then the butt totally changed the fight. Power had a target and Robinson could no longer fight at a controlled pace.

[Neri]

Powers name to me is now totally soured. I could give a fornicate about ever seeing him again. I mean what the fornicate? He opened up massive jagged gash on Robinson with a brutal headbutt! That to me totally changed the entire fight. Robinson was fighting in a nice rythm landing bodyshots that where going to take their toll later then the butt totally changed the fight. Power had a target and Robinson could no longer fight at a controlled pace.

I agree, i think the headbutt swayed the fight. Dale was doing well hurting Power with bodyshots. I was dissapointed he didnt throw more. The headbutt was so blatant and dale did well to carry on with blood streaming down his face from a nasty cut. Shame on Power for the butt. I hope we get a rematch

[stujones]

I agree that the headbutt swayed the fight and it was disgraceful. I still thought Dale won a close fight, but I think without the headbutt it would have been a much sharper performance and Dale would have continued to outbox Power.

Hard to know what do to in a situation like that - I think for one offence it should be 2 points deduction (as it was so blatant), if a fighter does it twice it should then be a DQ.

It is a grey area that needs addressing, but not sure how to address it. I think an instant DQ might be a bit harsh but then a fighter could be staring defeat in the face and win the fight through fouling the opponent and causing the ref to stop the fight.

I don't think a ruling that takes into account the result of the headbutt is the way forward - i.e. DQ if a cut occurs, point deductions if it doesn't. The intention is the same - for example, had Power got thrown out then surely Henry Janes should have in his fight with Kevin Mitchell.

The problem with instant DQ is then it goes to perception of what is an accidental headbutt. For example, you get dirty fighters mainly because of their fighting style (i.e. Holyfield). Whilst, Holyfield has had points deducted - I don't think he has ever put the nut in like Power did vs Robinson and like Janes did vs Mitchell. We could have some controversial DQ's if all non-accidental headbutts resulted in DQ's.

Its a difficult one to clarify, but it does need addressing.

[Manos de Oro]

I think a warning for leaning in with the head or nudging with it, then a point, then another, then disqualification. Blatant headbutting like Power's should be an instant point, or maybe 2 (depending on its consequences), then the disqualification if the fighter does it twice more (or maybe even worse - instant DQ - if it severely debilitates the other fighter).

To do what the board does now and award the perpetrator the victory about sums up their grip on the game these days - their vision is all skewed in the wrong directions.

They keep the single judge and the TKO rules for headbutting because it keeps true to tradition, yet they allow the proliferation of fake 'world' titles to saturate the integrity of their centrepiece Lonsdale.
Isn't that what they are supposed to be upholding and defending - the integrity of the British game? Yet they pander to all the wrong angles...

Fair enough, they can say these bogus belts bring bums on seats and create extra money; get the fighters TV time. But when was the last time you saw a double page spread in the national press for a British title fight? You'd be lucky to find a double in the local press these days.

[stujones]

Good post, Manos. However with regards to the Power vs Robinson it would seem that the ref never saw the incident so it is hard to gauge what he would have done.

Of course I am not it was okay for the ref to miss it, but it does happen and perhaps it is time for between round replays to be monitored on a big screen at the end of the round. It wasn't too late to dock points.

Despite saying a statement to the contary, I am convinced that had it not been for the big screen replays in the MGM grand - Tyson would have gone out for the fourth round vs Holyfield and not been DQ'd then. Was it just co-incidence that Mills DQ'd Tyson after the replay and not when he commited the second offense. The second bite wasn't that obvious in real time.

[states]

Surely the one rule that needs changing, and, indeed, one that can easily be changed, is the archaic British rule that any fighter suffering a cut; whether it be from a punch, or a headbutt, or an elbow, or indeed, anything that causes enough damage to halt the fight, causes the injured fighter to lose?

It's a total farce, and one that you could see coming into play on Friday: Robinson, for me, had to alter his approach somewhat, because he was wary of the ref calling a halt due to the cut. It could easily have been stopped, and Dale Robinson would have lost because a guy illegally sliced his head open. Surely we can take the approach of calling a no-contest before 4 rounds, or going to the score cards after 4?

[Coconut]

Great rumble but the butt was the turning point and it is just plain wrong that a blatant foul can have such an impact.

This was essentially a professional foul. Send him off. Seriously, the sport is in enough trouble without Frank taking his stable onto terrestrial telly and mums up and down the country watching flying headbutts slicing heads open.

Given the intent and the aftermath, Power should have been DQed for that, assuming the ref had seen it. Quite where he was looking when it happened I'm not sure.

As it was, no complaints about the scoring, could have gone either way I thought. But shouldn't have gone to the cards.

[TonyMontana]

Round of applause for Coconut. You are absolutely spot on. The 'flying headbutt' was a bloody (literally) disgrace. Full stop. As for the ref not seeing it? How can he NOT see it! That had a massive impact on the fight as Dale was slowly warming to the task and picking his shots, but gave Power greater impetus seeing the injury he had so blatently caused. Power should be disgusted with himself. Shame on him and the sport.

[johnswan1]

The headbutt was an absolute disgrace. He should have been disqualified right there and then if it was seen and it should be ruled a NC. This totally turned the fight in Powers favour and no rules in British boxing for stopping a fight and scoring rounds when accidental headbutts occur.

[stujones]

Round of applause for Coconut. You are absolutely spot on. The 'flying headbutt' was a bloody (literally) disgrace. Full stop. As for the ref not seeing it? How can he NOT see it! That had a massive impact on the fight as Dale was slowly warming to the task and picking his shots, but gave Power greater impetus seeing the injury he had so blatently caused. Power should be disgusted with himself. Shame on him and the sport.

Is this the Tony Montana, the light welterweight based in Sheffield?

Welcome aboard whoever.

[DG.]

The BBBoNo control should strip Power - he cheated witht that headbutt and it basically won him the fight.

[stujones]

The headbutt was an absolute disgrace. He should have been disqualified right there and then if it was seen and it should be ruled a NC. This totally turned the fight in Powers favour and no rules in British boxing for stopping a fight and scoring rounds when accidental headbutts occur.

Its a difficult situation, do you make a different rulling for a butt that causes a cut? Should Henry Janes (equally as blantant) got DQ'd vs Kevin Mitchell? I'm not saying the answer is no, I really don't know as it is difficult.

Problem with saying YES to the question should all purposeful headbutt result in a DQ then its quite difficult to define that. You get Dirty fighters due to their style (Holyfield) but I don't think Evander ever purposefully headbutt a fighter, although he did purposefully bite an opponent as an amateur - so who knows. The problem with just saying DQ if a cut occurs only is that Henry Janes had the same intent as Martin Power - yet he would have still been aloud to fight.

Obviously the ref/doctor thought the cut was okay to continue so I don't know how a No Contest could be declared in the Power vs Robinson fight.

Personally I think (as I think someone else has mentioned), the Power/Janes should have a TWO point deduction for the first time. If it occurs again, then he should be DQ'd.

I do think it is time though refs have some replay at the end of each round. It wouldn't effect the scoring as it was cards are given before the replay is shown. If there is an instant that the ref sees, then he can dock point/s at the end of the contest or maybe at the start of the next round.

[Coconut]

Fair play, Stu, I think I take a harsher line than you and DQ if there's a headbutt full stop.

It's against the rules. If there's no blood I think it's an irrelevance. That doesn't mean there's no damage. And what other sport is there where headbutting is not allowed by the rules but where you can get away with it?

Boxing's a tough old sport but we shouldn't get at all tied up in the fact that because boxers are tough then they can hack a headbutt. It's illegal, and should be treated as on a par with illegal handwraps or kicking.

Granted there is a distinction to be made and it takes a braver ref than some to make it. But I'm not talking about the Holyfield burrowing forehead (which should get a warning anyway) I'm talking about things like the Dominic Negus head-first assault which in no way could be construed as an accidental consequence of infighting.

[nickd]

The headbutt was an absolute disgrace. He should have been disqualified right there and then if it was seen and it should be ruled a NC. This totally turned the fight in Powers favour and no rules in British boxing for stopping a fight and scoring rounds when accidental headbutts occur.

That is never going to happen. A rematch is the most a board will mandate. Yes it may have had an effect on the fight but headbutts happen in fights while its unfair most fighters have been guilty of dirty tactics at one time or another. If that butt hadnt caused a cut nobody would be talking about it, just bad luck.

While Power may have stuck the head in intentionally there's no way he did it to deliberately cause injury. He often burrows in with the head.

Who's to say Power wouldn't have won without the cut?