Essex’s “Rockin” Robin Deakin (1-51, 0kos) often gets referred to as Britain’s “worst” boxer, a label he himself happily revels in. The focus last year of some rather cruel and mocking press in the national newspapers, Deakin, who at the time had his licence suspended by the British board, has taken everything in his stride, even when his right to earn a living was perhaps unfairly taken from him.
For this writer, even if he is among the “worst” boxers in the country, he can at least pride himself on also being one of the most humorous and likeable.
On what is today, his 29th birthday, he has reignited his social media taunting of lightweight (and I don’t mean in boxing terms) pop brat, Justin Bieber, himself undefeated with a record of (0-0-0).
When untrue rumours that Bieber would make his pro boxing debut on the May-Pac undercard surfaced last month, Deakin was one of the first to issue a challenge!
If there is one thing Robin can do, it’s entertain. Earlier on today, after weeks of light-hearted campaigning, he wrote on his twitter;
“@justinbieber It’s my birthday, agree the fight! You and your trainer stop bottling it. #BritainsWorstBoxer vs Justin Bieber. It sells”
I must admit I find the relationship between Floyd Mayweather and pop’s most irritating a little bizarre, as do many, yet towards the end of last year, videos of Bieber training with the Mayweather’s began to surface, resulting in numerous challenges to the Canadian singer. One of those challenges was from former world champion Fernando Vargas, who insisted his teeneage son would beat him up.
The funnier of the challenges as of late, have been from Robin.
Deakin, who turned pro in 2006, won his debut but has not managed to beat an opponent in his subsequent 51 fights. However, of all those losses he has only been stopped 12 times. He has mixed with some decent British talent, taking fights against up and coming prospects, often at very short notice. Names on his record include guys like Tim Witherspoon Jr, Josh Wale, Anthony Crolla, Stephen Smith, Ryan Walsh and Vinny Mitchell (bro of Kevin) who he put on the floor.
Despite the mocking of him, Deakin’s record as a journeyman fighter is NOWHERE near the worst in boxing. The fact remains that without guys like Robin, many small hall shows and early under-cards would struggle to survive, and lots of young prospects would also struggle to gain valuable and appropriate experience.
The game needs guys like him. More of them, in fact. However, I’m pretty sure that boxing can do without Justin Bieber, even if he is just attached to Mayweather’s arm and carrying his belts. The thought of him in-ring actually boxing is as laughable as it is ludicrous.
Yet he should know by now if he really is insistent, there is a game challenger waiting in Essex. I can almost hear those famous words of Mills Lane………
If I really listen hard enough!!
Twitter @undilutedpoison