BOXING MAD MAGAZINE #3 | Page 15

record, he has only been knocked out twice in his professional career, to Ricky Owen in 2007 and Stephen Smith in 2008.

Deakin has been stopped on his feet 9 times and the other 38 times he has lost on points.

During his career, Deakin has been in with some of the best talent Britain and Ireland has to offer. Eddie Hyland, a former Irish and IBF International super-featherweight champion. Ricky Owen, a former multiple British and Welsh amateur champion and Prizefighter semi-finalist. Ryan Walsh, a former BBBofC English super-bantamweight champion and Patrick Hyland, a former Irish featherweight champion.

Deakin has also fought Anthony Crolla, the current BBBofC English lightweight champion and former BBBofC lightweight champion. Stephen Smith, who is a former BBBofC British featherweight champion. The list is endless. These fighters that Deakin has fought are well known in the boxing vicinity. They are tough Men. He has also fought other talented prospects too such as Ryan Taylor and Liam Shinkwell, who face each other this coming March.

Now you may be wondering where I am leading with this, so I will explain.

Robin Deakin fought his last fight on the 11th of June 2012. Since then he has had his boxing license taken away from him. I spoke with Deakin on the phone on Monday 28th January and he told me that he was notified of the board's decision to take his license away via email. Midlands area council secretary, Les Potts. was the person who contacted Deakin.

Mr. Potts explained to him that the decision was made because of medical reasons. Deakin told me that he had passed all medical tests and brain scans so this should not be a reason for the decision.

The next day, Deakin decided to call Southern area council secretary, Robert W. Smith.

Mr. Smith informed him that the reason for their decision was because they were concerned for his health and safety as he absorbs too much punishment in the ring. Deakin told Mr. Smith that this is what boxing is all about. Fans like to see a fight and do not want to see fighters relying on survival tactics as it is boring.

At the end of the day, people buy tickets for these events with their hard earned money to see a fight and they do not want to see someone running away.

Deakin has even called in a solicitor to back his case and to help him get his license back.

As I explained earlier, Robin Deakin is a warrior and does not give up easily when he is in the ring and now that this has happened to him he is eager to get his license back with immediate effect by showing a warrior's spirit.

Deakin is only 26 and he feels hungrier than ever to get back in the ring to prove the doubters wrong.

Deakin continued to tell me that throughout his career, since signing with manager Mickey Helliet, he feels that he has been exploited and neglected by Helliet. Deakin feels that no duty of care had been imposed on him and how Mr. Helliet had not done enough to help him.

Deakin not only wants to now sue the board for loss of earnings, he wants to sue his manager and wants to see the board suspend Mickey Helliet's management license.

Now look at it from this angle. If you take a look at other professional boxers, such as Audley Harrison for instance, you will know that he is very vulnerable now. In his last fight against David Price, he was knocked out cold.

Two fights before that Harrison fought David Haye and barely threw any punches, yet he still has a license. Yes, he may have won a fair few fights in his career, but as I said, he is very vulnerable nowadays.

What good are you in the ring when you don't throw any punches anyway?! Nobody wants to see that!

From another angle, take a look at Dereck Chisora. He was involved in a post fight brawl with David Haye, who he did not even fight. Chisora had his license taken away and now has it back! Now people will say that he is more of a commodity than Robin Deakin. He attracts more fans to watch him fight and he sells out certain venues around Britain. I think that looking at things that way is totally unfair!

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