Robinson defies broken bones to win world title
Brave Liam Robinson overcame a fractured eye socket, broken nose and cheekbone to stun his experienced Thai opponent and win a World Muay Thai crown.
The Kingsthopre Thai boxer also gave away 3kg to Antuan Siang, of Bangkok, in Liverpool.
Yet Robinson soaked up all the punishment in a brutal contest and came through to score a superb points win over Siang and add the Golden Belt World Muay Thai 64.5kg belt to his European title.
Siang went into the clash with a professional record of 96 fights and 83 wins, with 79 of them coming by way of knockout.
And the Thai held the WMC intercontinental, world and South Thailand titles.
And the opening two rounds went the way of the strong favourite as Robinson, who has won 22 of his 25 fights in an eight-year professional career, fought to get into the contest.
But Robinson, who was undefeated as an amateur, picked it up in round three.
In the next round Robinson sustained a fractured cheekbone and eye-socket, and then in the fifth he suffered a broken nose and a two-inch cut from an elbow to the forehead.
Despite bleeding heavily from the cut, Robinson didn't take a backward step and rocked his opponent with a right hand and hurt him with elbows and knees to the ribs late on to seal the judges' decision. Robinson, backed by NB's Sports Bar, is now aiming to defend the world title in March.
Robinson is also having success as a trainer with all three of his fighters winning at Woking recently.
Sheree Halliday came through a contest against Holland's Marie Krose to win the IKF European 58kg belt.
The 26-year-old Kingsthorpe boxer put Krose down for counts in the third and fifth rounds. Halliday is now looking for a world title shot.
Teenager Mason Harris, of Lumbertubs, cruised to a comfortable points victory, dropping his opponent in the third with a left hook.
The 16 year-old was eight years younger and gave away 1kg in weight. Another 16-year-old, Josh Graham, of Kingsley, had a close win after moving ahead comfortably early on then tiring in the latter rounds.
Robinson's boxers lost just one fight in 2009 and collected 14 wins. Harris is now looking for a Midland Area Championship bout, and there is a possible comeback for Robinson's younger brother Scott, of Brixworth, while youngest brother Andrew, 11, of Kings Heath, is set to defend his junior 34kg title this year.
Undefeated Area Champion Ben Lucas, 17, of Brixworth, is also hoping to climb back into the top 20 rankings and become a contender for an English title after a year out.
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Saturday 26 May 2012
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