Robert Berridge

Robert Berridge
Born	November 22, 1984 Wanganui, New Zealand
Other names	The Butcher
Residence	Albany, New Zealand
Nationality	New Zealand
Ethnicity	European
Height	173 cm (5 ft 8 in)
Weight	79.0 kg (174 lb; 12 st 6 lb)
Division	Light Heavyweight
Reach	178 cm (70.1 in)
Stance	Southpaw
Years active	2009 - Present
Professional boxing record
Total	30
Wins	26
By knockout	21
Losses	3
By knockout	1
Draws	1
Other information
Occupation	Professional Boxer
Boxing record from BoxRec

Robert Berridge (born November 22, 1984, Wanganui, New Zealand) is a New Zealand professional Light Heavyweight boxer.

Berridge is a boxer who has had over thirty fights, five boxing titles and has peaked at ninth on the World Boxing Organization and twelfth on the World Boxing Association rankings in 2014.^[1] In 2009, Berridge made his debut against Royden Lee at ABA Stadium. In 2015 in South Africa, Berridge had his first World title bout against Thomas Oosthuizen for the International Boxing Organisation Light Heavyweight title. Berridge lost by unanimous decision.^[2]

Berridge vs Caparello

Berridge suffered his first lost against Blake Caparello by unanimous decision. Berridge took the fight with very short notice. A rematch has always been talked about but nothing has ever came from it.^[3]

First boxing title

The NZPBAssn presented Berridge with the Association's New Zealand Light Heavyweight title. His manager/promoter Vasco Kovacevic tried 6 boxers of standing to match Robbie for the title. All declined for various reasons. Robbie made a token appearance in the ring in a 4 x 3 bout against Moses Ioelu. Moses was the only one who volunteered to get in the ring, but with only 4 x 3’s. Robbie was presented the belt after the bout.^[4]

Berridge vs Yannick

Berridge got the biggest win of his career after he defeated world ranked Australian Boxer Serge Yannick. Berridge won by TKO in the 8th round.^[5]

Berridge vs Matsumoto

Berridge won his first regional title against Shintaro Matsumoto in July 2013 at ABA Stadium for the WBC Asian Boxing Council Light Heavyweight title. Berridge won by TKO in the fifth round.^[6]

Berridge vs MacKinnon

Berridge won his next two boxing title against highly New Zealander Daniel MacKinnon for the vacant WBA Pan Asian Boxing Association title and vacant WBO Oriental title. Berridge won TKO in the tenth round. MacKinnon was rushed to hospital after the fight. After a CT scan it was discovered that MacKinnon had a brain bleed and had emergency surgery. MacKinnon was in a coma however woke up less than 24 hours after the surgery. MacKinnon made a fully recover however his boxing career is over.^[7]

Berridge vs Lepikhin

Berridge suffered his second lose to Lepikhin in his first fight in America, losing both of his regional titles. Lepikhin is five and half inches taller and had a four-inch reach advantage. Berridge lost by TKO in the fifth round.

Berridge vs Oosthuizen

Berridge went for his first world title in June 2015 against IBO Champion Thomas Oosthuizen in South Africa. Berridge also took this fight at short notice.^[8] Controversy came around this bout as Oosthuizen did not make weight. When given the opportunity came to give Oosthuizen two hours to shed off the excess weight, he came weighing even more than the first weigh in.^[9] There has been reports that promoters try to convince Berridge's team to postpone the bout, however the bout went on. The World Title was declared vacant with the stipulation added that if Oosthuizen won the title will remain vacant, however if Berridge won he would be the new World Champion. Also thirty percent of Oosthuizen's purse was forfeited to Berridge.^[10] Berridge unfortunately suffered his third lose of his career by Unanimous Decisionand the title remain vacant.

Super 8 four man tournament

In November 2015 Berridge will be competing in the next Super 8 Tournament. Usually the Super 8 is a one night eight man tournament, However the Super 8 rebranded into 2 four man tournaments in one night. The other men in the tournament are Christchurch's Reece Papuni and Fiji's Joseph Kwadjo with a fourth fighter yet to be announced.^[11]

Controversy

In December 2014 Berridge became highly intoxicated at a Duco Events Fight for Life in Hamilton, New Zealand. Due to his training regime he did not usually drink and became highly intoxicated as a result. On the way back home Berridge jumped out of the car that his manager was driving on the way back to his home to Auckland with Berridge and his wife,The car was going 100 km/hr. When Berridge's wife tried to get him back in the car, Berridge lashed out arms flailing. The manager and Berridge's wife decided to leave him there while Berridge himself tried to walk and hitchhike home the next morning. Once Berridge got home he immediately searched up the government anti-violence It's Not Ok! website and enrolled himself into a family violence course. Shortly after this had happen Duco Event's released Berridge out of there stable and his contract. Berridge was signed to a six-year contract with Duco but only fought three times under the contract which may have lead to his increasing frustration under Duco and not being on the Fight for Life. Since the incident Berridge has been highly apologetic to the people he disappointed with his behaviour.^[12]

Professional boxing titles

• New Zealand Professional Boxing Association Light Heavyweight title (2013)
• WBC Asian Boxing Council Light Heavyweight Title (2013)
• WBO Pan Asian Boxing Association Light Heavyweight Title (2013)
• WBO Oriental Light Heavyweight Title (2013)
• IBO Oceania Light Heavyweight Title (2015)

Professional boxing record

References

1. Duncan Johnstone (2014-08-08). "Robbie Berridge relaxed about giant challenge". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
2. "Robert Berridge loses world title fight in South Africa". Stuff.co.nz. 2015-06-07. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
3. Duncan Johnstone (2014-06-01). "Fears Butcher's world title shot could get chop". Stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
4. "Champ's just itching for a fight - Sport - Wanganui Chronicle News". Nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
5. "Berridge ready for MacKinnon - Sport - Wanganui Chronicle News". Nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
6. "World Boxing Council". Wbcboxing.com. 2013-07-03. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
7. "Brain-injured boxer MacKinnon awake, talking". Stuff.co.nz. 2013-11-17. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
8. "Robert Berridge loses world title fight in South Africa". Stuff.co.nz. 2015-06-07. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
9. Bongani Magasela. "Volbrecht threatens to dump overweight two-time world champ Oosthuizen". Times LIVE. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
10. "Berridge outpointed in World Title Challenge | Scoop News". Scoop.co.nz. 2015-06-07. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
11. "Berridge double banger on the cards - Sport - Wanganui Chronicle News". Nzherald.co.nz. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
12. "Disgraced fighter Robbie Berridge on road to redemption". Stuff.co.nz. 2015-02-01. Retrieved 2015-10-10.
13. "Robert Berridge". BoxRec. 1984-11-22. Retrieved 2015-10-10.

External links

• Professional boxing record for Robert Berridge from BoxRec