D’Animal loses out to Polish champion

Andrew Robinson…questioned scoring of Welter bout. Pic: MSN Images

WHEN it comes to integrity, toughness and fighting heart, few domestic boxers can hold a candle to Birmingham veteran Andrew “D’Animal” Robinson.

Those qualities are evidently much valued by Polish fans. For last Friday, Robinson fought for the fourth time in Poland. It will be his last, the 39-year-old insisted.

In the south-west city of Legnica, Andrew was outpointed over 10 rounds by Polish middleweight champ Karol Welter, who has lost only one of 19 contests.

The scorecards were very wide, with two judges giving Welter every round (100-900). The other gave Robinson just two.

Andrew, who has packed 39 bouts into a blood and guts career, is not crying robbery, but insist the scores were very wide of the mark.

“It thought it was a close fight,” he told me. “I’m not going back, it’s just biased. You’re four rounds down before you start.

“I knew what was going to happen. Before my fight, I was watching boxers dominate and they’d give it to the Polish guy.”

We should not forget Poland was the setting for possibly the best win of Robinson’s career. In 2019 the former British title challenger travelled to Katowice and snapped the long unbeaten run of local hero Damian Jonak.

Since then, he’s returned to draw and lose on points to Jonak.

“He’s a busy, very good boxer,” Robinson said of 28-year-old Welter, “but I’ve been in with a lot bigger punchers.

“I think he’ll do well. I’m after a rematch in this country, but that’s not going to happen.”

Robinson, who has captured Midlands and IBO Continental titles, insists the show will go on, there are no immediate thoughts of retirement.

“I’m fighting fit and just completed my first 10 rounder in six years,” he said. “I want big fights. I’m 100 per cent and looking forward to the next one.”

That was Robinson’s eighth loss since turning pro in 2012.