They call him ‘Britain’s Worst Boxer,’ though it’s a tag that Crawley-born ‘Rockin’ Robin Deakin has shrewdly used to his advantage, and one he is seeking to turn around good and proper in 2016.
All Robin Deakin’s life he has been a fighter, born with the crippling condition Talipes in 1986, his parents were told by doctors he may never walk again, so to even become a professional prize-fighter twenty years later was the overcoming of what many would see as an insurmountable obstacle all on it’s own.
Yet after winning that debut outing on points in October 2006, Deakin went on to amass one of the longest losing streaks in the country, fighting in the away corner and often on short notice, going 1-49 until the British Board saw fit to remove his license to fight amidst concerns for his health.
After another two losing outings boxing under the auspices of foreign commissions, Deakin decided to give it one last crack, enlisting the services of former British welterweight champion and world title challenger, Michael Jennings, training hard for August’s fight with Denniss Kornilovs [W/PTS/4] from Jenning’s Chorley base, which he runs with his brother, Dave.
“It worked! I can’t thank Michael and Dave enough for what they’ve done for my career,” Deakin told Eastside Boxing about August’s win. “I knew if I put the work in then I’d win it. As soon as I got the decision I rang Michael and I was literally crying on the phone I was so happy! All the hard work paid off.”
Deakin has been followed by an independent documentary film crew in the run up to the Kornilovs fight, something that’s set to continue given the enormous international publicity that came about following his win, with even Floyd Mayweather himself mentioning it on social media.
“It was mad, mate. Stories from Germany, America, all over the world. You can’t buy that kinda press,” Deakin continued. “Established champions don’t get that sort of exposure! Which is why I need to build on it now, prove that win wasn’t a fluke!”
The initial plan was for Deakin to box once more on a foreign licence on December 6th, ostensibly looking at fighting for an International Masters title, before then going for the return of his license again in the New Year, although given he’s working full time, he’s putting those plans on hold until after Christmas.
“The Masters, some good fighters have won that and gone onto better things. I was looking at fighting a 9-0 undefeated kid on December 6th, a German, but I need to be fully focused and I’m working full-time. I’d have been going up to Chorley and Michaels gym on the weekend and doing 40 hours a week working Mon-Fri. That’s half the reason why I ended up like I did in the first place. I need to be focused.
“If I can get another good win and then get my license back, the plan is to enter Prizefighter. Eddie Hearn’s already said he’d put me in it if I have my license, and I honestly think that by training right, with Michael and Dave again, I could give a good go at winning it.”
It’s difficult not to admire Deakin’s ‘never say die’ attitude, though he has found that the exposure comes with it’s pitfalls, with various ‘journalists’ and online bloggers writing scathing and sarcastic stories. One of the most recent to catch Deakin’s eye was a piece written by a guy called Matt Hamilton, who runs a low-key blogging site among other things, and who expounded on the subject of the money he believes Deakin has taken away from the sport and other, “better” fighters in purses, by keeping on boxing.
“Did you see what he wrote? The guy’s an absolute fanny! I’ve earned way MORE than what he said anyway!,” Deakin laughed. “He was begging for a picture with me at the York Hall so what does that say?. All he is, is a FAN of boxing. He’d never say any of that sh** he writes to the fighter’s faces.
“All that stuff about Frankie Gavin’s foot being a fake injury too? The guy needs to spend less time typing on a keyboard with those little fingers and put them to use on his missus a bit more. She looks like she needs it! Hamilton? Absolute wan***!”
“2016 will be my year. Finally I’ve got a good trainer, I’ve got that first win. It wasn’t a fluke. I just pray it all keeps going right. This is just the start of the turnaround…..trust me,” he added. ” I ain’t letting no one get in my way anymore.”
Twitter @Undilutedpoison