Fields vows to battle on after TKO defeat

Fields (left) and Robinson at the East End weigh-in

IT’S a measure of the warrior within Ben Fields that he has sought no excuses following his stoppage loss to Jamie Robinson at York Hall, Bethnal Green, last night (Saturday).

And Digbeth’s Fields has the ammunition to be aggrieved. Robinson came in much heavier for the scheduled eight rounder, a change of the night’s running order derailed his warm-up and, Field says, the referee should’ve given him more time before stepping in.

Ben – a real pro’s pro – played a part in the latter. After being caught flush, the 33-year-old light-welter rose at two, when he should’ve taken a longer count.

I was not at ringside. A video of the finish reveals Robinson delivering a right hand and big left hook. Ben rose quickly, then sank again to take a knee.

I’m a Fields fan, but cannot agree the referee’s intervention was outrageously premature. Fields looked hurt.

And in the seconds before going down, Fields was being caught to head and body.

The arguments are academic. The record books will say Fields was stopped in the third.

And former English title challenger Robinson, raised in Harlow but fighting out of Derbyshire, can now boast of being the first man to halt Ben, a man who, in his previous 27 contests, has displayed an iron chin.

Beyond the controversy, that’s the stand-out message. Fields, a fighter who has never shown vulnerability before, a man who took thunderous punching Kaisee Benjamin the full distance, was fleetingly vulnerable last night.

It may have been a contest played out away from big-time boxing’s glamour, but it was significant. Victory for either fighter opened the door to an English title shot.

And Fields was confident of victory. Defeat must today leave a very bitter taste with the former Midlands champ. He pinned a lot on that fight.

Obviously crestfallen, he sent a message to fans the following morning.

Ben said: “The morning after the night before. Congratulations to Jamie Robinson, he got the win. I didn’t get the win last night, but what do we do? We get straight back on the horse and go again. That’s not even in question.

“No toys being thrown out the pram. It would be quite easy to do that. All the tricks in the trade last night. Half a stone in weight over. We’re on fight night, we’re ready, we’re warmed up, ready to do the ring walk, top of the steps, York Hall. Then another couple of fighters come out of the corner. They’ve changed the order and obviously forgot to tell us.

“And then, finally, the stoppage. I was up on my feet at two, natural instinct, probably should’ve stayed down a bit longer. Got caught with a good shot, flush on the chin. It was a flash, turned my legs off for a little bit.

“Straight up and the ref called it off, but it was never a stoppage, in my opinion.

“But what do we do? Do we get bitter? Do I get upset with myself and others or do we get straight back on it? I feel stronger for the loss, I feel more inspired.

“I want to go again, I’ll be back in the ring very soon. That’s what you do in life – when you fall off the horse, you get back straight back up and straight back on it. You never give in, you never give up.

“I’m chasing dreams in boxing only I can see. It was never my plan to be a boxer, but now I’m here I’m going to give it a good go. I’m going to reach my potential and I don’t believe I’m anywhere near it yet. I’ll get there.”

And Ben has the steely determination to do just that.

Ecstatic Robinson posted: “I’m the man to knock out the unstoppable. Said to everyone anyone who stands and fights with me is in trouble, I don’t just talk it for clout I’m really that guy!”

He added: “I deserve all the big fights now.”