By Terence Dooley

Crawley’s “Rockin’” Robin Deakin may not have fought under the auspices of the BBBoC since 2012, but the colourful, controversial journeyman has told BoxingScene that he still wants to fight under the Board’s jurisdiction and, true to form, is taking his case to the British governing body one more time in a bid to regain his boxing licence.

Deakin was named as ‘Britain’s Worst Boxer’ in a newspaper article earlier this year due to his 1-51 (0) record.  However, the 28-year-old believes that, despite the negative attention the article generated, he has been hard done by; he wants to regain his domestic licence in order to secure more fights and show people that, despite the attention-grabbing headlines, he can actually box a bit.

In recent times, Deakin has fought under the jurisdiction of the German Boxing Assocation and Malta Boxing Commission—losses to Antonio Counihan (L TKO 4) and Damian Lawniczak (L4) in 2013 and 2014 respectively—but he really wants to box under the BBBoC, his last fight under them was in 2012 (L RTD 3 against Andrejs Podusovs).  Despite not having had his hand raised in victory since his pro debut (W4 over Shaun Walton), Deakin argued that, should he pass a medical, he has the right to fight.

“I’ve got loads to offer,” he said when speaking to me about his November 5th date before the Board—dare I say it, but there could be fireworks that day.  “I am now being managed properly and only want to fight no more than once a month.  It means I'll have time to prepare and put what I did wrong in the fights right in the gym.

“Don’t forget, I was semi-final Senior ABA twice and I always boxed the best, but just lost out.  I caused a few upsets back then, my dad [Lester Deakin] trained me as an amateur, and with my dad backing me now and helping out by putting training together I’m in a much better place.  My dad knows me and knows what I can do, and I'm ready so it's time to go.  I'm young still and hungry and know my own powers.”

Still, records don’t lie, and Robin has not lodged a W since turning over in 2006—this bid to regain his licence will probably turn out to be his toughest fight to date.  True to form, though, the journeyman boxer is willing, able and ready to step into the fray.

“I feel I have just peaked now, I need this chance to prove that to people,” he said.  “With the BbboC possibly giving me this chance, I won't let them down as well as myself.  I am underrated and there is no pressure on me, but I'm better than my record and people know that, so when I do fight a prospect I will be ready.

“In the past, when I wasn't ready, I dropped the best before just losing out.  Remember, I didn't have time to rest between fights, I was fighting so much and needed to rest, but I’ll be able to take a rest in-between fights now.  When I do fight and drop them they’ll either stay down or I will know how to cope with finishing them off.”

Cases such as Deakin invoke a number of emotions: disdain for his record, respect for his desire and a sense of sympathy.  Fighters love to fight; if it is in you then you find it hard to let go.  Deakin will try other circuits, we have seen this in recent times, so, should he pass a medical, it could be time to bring him back into the fold under the watchful eye of the BBBoC, who are still the best boxing body in the world.

“That's the truth,” said Deakin.  “And with the right team, I could get an English title—one big win could reunite my career.  Now the national press are on my case again, so I'm still the most talked about boxer in Britain.  Good or bad, I hassle people and make a name for myself.”

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