Stratford’s Warner: I want to be better know than The Bard

Robbie-Lee Warner in his amateur days. Now the pros beckon

ROBBIE-Lee Warner, a Stratford-upon-Avon scrapper, is entering the pro game with bold and Bard intentions.

The town’s most famous son, William Shakespeare, is boring, the super-flyweight informed me. He wants to one day be bigger than the literary genius.

The fact his hometown is only known for Shakespeare annoys him. The whole tourism thing is Much Ado About Nothing.

Robbie, a building site “chippy” before becoming a full-time fighter, isn’t big on classical literature.

The 22-year-old launches his bid to beat Shakespeare in Stratford’s popularity stakes on May 23. That night Robbie will make his professional debut on BCB’s show at The Hangar Venue, Wolverhampton.

“I believe I’m the only pro from Stratford-upon-Avon,” he said. “I want to get the town behind me, show that it’s about more than tourism, show that there’s more to it than just Shakespeare. He is boring to me, I think there is so much more to Stratford.

“I want to be better known than Shakespeare.”

In a stop-start, 13 year amateur career, Robbie flitted from gym to gym, had around 30 bouts, but failed to make a title impact. Even then he had a big following, selling more than 100 tickets for one show.

“I didn’t really show my true self in the amateurs,” said the young man who will carry the ring nickname “Baby Faced Assassin”. “A lot of my time was wasted.

BCB announce Robbie’s arrival as one of their fighters

“Now I can go all the way myself. I think hard work beats talent and I’ll give it all I’ve got. I will grab every opportunity with both hands and prevent anyone from stopping me. I have a family solidly behind me and that’s all I need.”

Robbie certainly eats, sleeps and breathes boxing.

“I was in the building game for a number of years,” he said. “I enjoyed it, but it was never my passion. When I go through those ropes, I’m in the only place I want to be. Boxing is the thing I feel I do best and want to do the most. I want to build a legacy for my family.”

Robbie, among a host of new BCB signings, believes his style is made for the paid ranks. “Amateur and pro are two different styles,” he said. “I don’t want to score points, I want to throw punches to hurt.

“I bring hard work, I’m tough, when I do let my hands go I think I can do some damage. I don’t slow down, I just get stronger and stronger.

“There will be nerves on my debut – there’s always nerves because you want to do everyone proud. But, in the end, it’s down to me. You have nerves because you don’t want to let people down – I don’t think I’ll let anyone down.”

Move over Shakespeare. It’s time for Stratford to prepare for the Merchant of Violence.