BoxRec

I'm from the US Whats the story on him and why do they call him the Cinderella Man thanks in Advance

Because he was little more than a competitive journeyman who suddenly became a very proficient second tier featherweight champion.

Down to hard-work and application.

He's now training fighters, notably British featherweight champion Dazzo Williams.

Following his career highs he probably carried on a little too long and looked well -worn by the time Scot Harrison got to him....

That enough?

He got I think 48 hours notice to fight for the vacant WBO feather title, took it and won it and made some very good defences up until running into Naseem Hamed. His defences included the likes of Colin McMillan, Paul Hodgekinson, and Duke McKensie.

In truth a very likeable but limited fighter who made the most of his assets and took his chance when it came.

Post his shock win, he was well matched but did well to keep his crown until he came up against a real world class fighter in Hamed. That fight was pretty humiliating for him and ( IMHO ) Naz's most complete performance.

Post the loss of his title, he did carry on way too long.

All that being said, he is a decent chap, made some cash and has a lot to offer the sport. There should be more people like him in Boxing

Slapsie

Robinson only had 4 weeks to train for his fight for Naz, disgraceful treatment of a world champion.

How someone who had never fought at Featherweight become number 1 in the rankings is beyond me

Robinson might have been limited, but a prime Robinson would have had Scott Harrison for breakfast - he hurt Harrison when they fought.

stujones wrote:Robinson only had 4 weeks to train for his fight for Naz, disgraceful treatment of a world champion.

How someone who had never fought at Featherweight become number 1 in the rankings is beyond me

Robinson might have been limited, but a prime Robinson would have had Scott Harrison for breakfast - he hurt Harrison when they fought.

I don't disagree, but then I think Harrison is pretty limited anyway and most of his rep comes from whaling on an out of sorts McCulloch. He will soon find out the hrash truth if he comes up against Chi

I didn't know about the 4 weeks thing with Naz although, I don't think it would have made a lot of difference. Naz at that point would have beaten almost anyone

Slapsie

stujones wrote:Robinson only had 4 weeks to train for his fight for Naz, disgraceful treatment of a world champion.

How someone who had never fought at Featherweight become number 1 in the rankings is beyond me

I think I am right in saying that Robinson was on holiday abroad when he got the call about the Naseem Hamed fight date. A very shoddy way of treating a defending Champion in my view.

Having said that Naz was red-hot that night as good a fighter Robinson was I still feel Naz would have beaten him.

But Hamed was seen as the new moneymaking superstar and was treated as such. The cards were really staked against the proud Welsh fighter that night.

stujones wrote:Robinson only had 4 weeks to train for his fight for Naz, disgraceful treatment of a world champion.

How someone who had never fought at Featherweight become number 1 in the rankings is beyond me

Robinson might have been limited, but a prime Robinson would have had Scott Harrison for breakfast - he hurt Harrison when they fought.

Allegedly. Robinson had a contract that said he would get £100,000.00 per defence - good money.

NAZ was a Superbantam and Fwankly speaking - someone put NAZ at number 1 at Featherweight just as Robinson's mandatory was due!.. NAz took the fight as the Mandatory and got £1M. Robinson got his £100K - we ALL KNOW NAZ VS ROBINSON WAS WORTH at least £500,000.00 to Robinson.

Robinson's Promoter fuc-ked him up in that respect..Allegedly !


Who was his promoter ? - Fwankly speaking - I have forgotten - anyone remember who it is ?.

All the above I agree with, but I would add Robinson was not looking good in his last few defences previous to Naz.

tonyevs wrote:All the above I agree with, but I would add Robinson was not looking good in his last few defences previous to Naz.

Maybe so -but that did not excuse whoever shafted him re: his mandatory!

No wonder Steve carried on Boxing.


Who the f was it ?.

Surely the WBO themselves. They saw that there was a big earner in Hamed.

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Surely the WBO themselves. They saw that there was a big earner in Hamed.

No - Fwankly speaking - someone lobbied the WBO and they allowed it to happen - Robinsons own promoter should have looked out for him. WHo ws he ).


Fwankly speaking - he knows WHO HE IS !


Fwankly speaking.

Ultimately it's the WBO who made the decision. All promoters lobby the governing bodies to get their fighters positions in the rankings, it's a part of the game. How else do you think Clinton Woods is getting his fourth shot at a title?

jamesmcdonnell wrote:Ultimately it's the WBO who made the decision. All promoters lobby the governing bodies to get their fighters positions in the rankings, it's a part of the game. How else do you think Clinton Woods is getting his fourth shot at a title?

They do lobby - especially when it allows you to PISS on the contract you had with your own fighter and pay him 20 % of what he is actually worth.. YOUR OWN FIGHTER.... Allegedly..of course !

I do not believe a word of it personally...or do I !

I never rated Robinsons skills but he was super fit and his fitness was often enough to see him through on a high work rate.

Once he got that title he gained confidence and improved as a fighter and it was hard to get that title off him.

He was a lovely chap whom I remember often made donating lots of momey to charity after fights.

I think Robinson also raised some money for Palciao, which was a good touch.

I about half way through his reign I really wanted Robinson to go to America and change coaches. He had tremendous hand speed and I think a different coach could have utlilised that facet a bit more. I think if he would have gone with a say Kevin Rooney he might have developed the punch - no disrespect to Dai Gardiner but you don't see many 1 punch KO artists from his stable.

He had the speed and the natural strength, a slight modification on technique and he would have knocking them out left, right and centre.

I agree with Tony he did look a little stale in his last two successful defences - but I suppose he was due a couple of low key defences and I would have attributed them to motivation problem. I don't think the tank was running try - because Robinson produced one or two performances post Hamed that were as good as his championship hay day.

He worked his way back to number 1 contendor status with a string of impressive wins and impressive performances, most notable was his win over Andrew Matabola - Matabola might not have been the greatest fighter, but it was the performance that I liked.

He then foolishly (with his number 1 contendor already secure) made a defence of one of the intercontinental titles vs Jaun Carlos Ramirez and that is when he came to end. The fight was very close at the time of the stoppage.

I think he only one once or twice after that (once vs Calvo), he still performed well against Cassius Baloyi (I thought he deserved the decision) - it was a shock to see him looking shot vs Harrison, especially as he did hurt the Scot.

Wasn`t Robinsons trainer little Ronnie Rush? some of his training may have been at Gardiners but I remember Ronnie being his main trainer with him.

tonyevs wrote:Wasn`t Robinsons trainer little Ronnie Rush? some of his training may have been at Gardiners but I remember Ronnie being his main trainer with him.

It was pretty much a combined effort. I think gradually Dai took over, it definately did start off with Ronnie (although it was almost the Stewart / Suarez situation with both in corner). By the Hamed fight, it was pretty much all Gardiner.

Ronnie and Steve did split (quite a nasty split if memory serves me) and Ronnie was really pushing for Jones vs Robinson.

I think my last post could also be implied to Ronnie Rush fighters, its fitness / defence the main priority - you don't see many power punchers with that stable either.

I knew Ronnie quite well whilst he worked the doors in Caerphilly, and met Steve for the first time when a friend and myself were invited by Ronnie to train with him in Cardiff.

This was a few years before the Davison fight and Steve was very very fit then, and as always a great down to earth guy.

A few years later, when Robinson had lost the title we went to Dai Gardiners for sparring and once again were lucky enough to spar with Steve, and got to say he was exactly the same nice guy even after his spell in the spotlight.

Naz to be honest would have beaten Robinson even when Steve was at his best, but I would say he was a year or two past it when Hamed got to him.
I think Steve deserved far better from his promoter, here was a guy in love with the sport who participated even on the journeyman circuit, how many of todays fighters would do that, and when he won the title fought the favourites put in front of him.

And I think his promoter seeing that Robinson was there for the taking made sure his new jewel got the chance, so as not to complicate things with other outfits.