Robert Hawkins (boxer)
Encyclopedia
Robert Hawkins is a journeyman
heavyweight
boxer
who fought many contenders and champions in the 1990s and 2000s.
prison while serving six years for aggravated assault.
in 1995 in his 4th fight and was KO'd in the 4th round. After another loss to prospect Gary Bell
, Hawkins went on a 15 fight win streak and ascended to a heavyweight contender, but the lost to Livin Castillo in a close decision in 2004. The following year he lost to Eddie Chambers
by decision. After a win over Robert Wiggins, he went on a 5 fight losing streak, losses to Samuel Peter
, heavyweight prospect Kevin Johnson
, David Tua
, Jason Estrada
, and Jean Francois Bergeron, all by decision. In the loss to Peter, the fight was delayed for about ten minutes at the close of round four when Panama Lewis
, the advisor for Sultan Ibragimov
, collapsed in the audience and was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. Hawkins seemed destined for permanent clubfighter status before scoring an upset win over Terry Smith
in late 2007. The momentum was lost when he was KO'd in his next bout against Ukrainian contender Vladimir Virchis
. Hawkins most recently upset former contender Dominick Guinn
on ESPN after taking the fight on 2 weeks notice after Alonzo Butler
pulled out. Hawkins has lost his three recent fights to Denis Boytsov
, Oleg Maskaev
in a rematch and Bermane Stiverne. He went on another loosing streak, going 0-7, and announced his retirement in July 2011 after decision loss to Jason Bergman.
Journeyman
A journeyman is someone who completed an apprenticeship and was fully educated in a trade or craft, but not yet a master. To become a master, a journeyman had to submit a master work piece to a guild for evaluation and be admitted to the guild as a master....
heavyweight
Heavyweight
Heavyweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Fighters who weigh over 200 pounds are considered heavyweights by the major professional boxing organizations: the International Boxing Federation, the World Boxing Association, the World Boxing Council, and the World Boxing...
boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
who fought many contenders and champions in the 1990s and 2000s.
Early life
On ESPN's Friday Night Fights telecast on Dec 28, 2007 it was revealed that Hawkins began boxing in a PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
prison while serving six years for aggravated assault.
Background
Hawkins, known for stepping in for fighters on late notice, turned pro in 1994 and took on future champion Oleg MaskaevOleg Maskaev
Oleg Alexandrovich Maskaev is a Russian professional boxer and a former WBC heavyweight champion. He is an ethnic Mordvin.-Boxing career:Maskaev, a former mine worker, began his career in the 1980s as an amateur boxer in the Soviet Union, where he held a victory over world champion Vitali...
in 1995 in his 4th fight and was KO'd in the 4th round. After another loss to prospect Gary Bell
Gary Bell
Wilbur Gary Bell , nicknamed "Ding Dong", is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched from 1958-1969 for four different teams in his career, but is noted primarily for his time with the Cleveland Indians...
, Hawkins went on a 15 fight win streak and ascended to a heavyweight contender, but the lost to Livin Castillo in a close decision in 2004. The following year he lost to Eddie Chambers
Eddie Chambers
Edward "Eddie" Chambers is an American heavyweight boxer fighting out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.-Professional career:Eddie started boxing professionally in 2000 at the age of 18...
by decision. After a win over Robert Wiggins, he went on a 5 fight losing streak, losses to Samuel Peter
Samuel Peter
Samuel Okon Peter , nicknamed "The Nigerian Nightmare," is a professional heavyweight boxer and the former WBC heavyweight champion....
, heavyweight prospect Kevin Johnson
Kevin Johnson (boxer)
Kevin "Kingpin" Johnson is an American heavyweight boxer.-Amateur career:Johnson started boxing at the age of 18...
, David Tua
David Tua
David "Tuamanator" Tua is a New Zealand professional heavyweight boxer, fighting out of South Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand.He is a former WBO Asia Pacific and WBO Oriental Heavyweight champion....
, Jason Estrada
Jason Estrada
Jason Moses Estrada is a boxer who represented the United States at the 2004 Olympic Games in the super heavyweight division. In 2003 he won the gold medal at the Pan American Games....
, and Jean Francois Bergeron, all by decision. In the loss to Peter, the fight was delayed for about ten minutes at the close of round four when Panama Lewis
Panama Lewis
Carlos "Panama" Lewis is a well-known and highly controversial boxing trainer who achieved his greatest notoriety in the 1980s.-Early career:Lewis was a disciple of trainer Chickie Ferrara...
, the advisor for Sultan Ibragimov
Sultan Ibragimov
Sultan-Ahmed Magomedsalihovich Ibragimov, is a retired professional boxer and a former WBO heavyweight champion. He is of Avar Dagestani Muslim descent...
, collapsed in the audience and was taken to the hospital in an ambulance. Hawkins seemed destined for permanent clubfighter status before scoring an upset win over Terry Smith
Terry Smith
Terry Smith may refer to:*Terry Smith , British jazz guitarist*Terry Smith , Australian politician*Terry Smith , player with St Kilda and Richmond...
in late 2007. The momentum was lost when he was KO'd in his next bout against Ukrainian contender Vladimir Virchis
Vladimir Virchis
Volodymyr Virchis is a Ukrainian boxer and is a touted prospect in the heavyweight division.Virchis is known as "The Hunter", the large and powerful Virchis turned professional in 1999 and won his first 20 bouts with 17 knockouts, including victories over clubfighters Julius Francis, Cliff Couser,...
. Hawkins most recently upset former contender Dominick Guinn
Dominick Guinn
Dominick Alexander Guinn, , is an American professional boxer with a record of 33-6-1, with 22 KOs. He is self-managed and he is trained by Ronnie Shields...
on ESPN after taking the fight on 2 weeks notice after Alonzo Butler
Alonzo Butler
Alonzo Butler is an American heavyweight boxer.Massive 6' 3" 250 pound "Big Zo" Butler started boxing in 1997...
pulled out. Hawkins has lost his three recent fights to Denis Boytsov
Denis Boytsov
Denis Boytsov is a Russian heavyweight boxer .-Amateur career:Boytsov has had a decorated amateur career, including the following accomplishments:...
, Oleg Maskaev
Oleg Maskaev
Oleg Alexandrovich Maskaev is a Russian professional boxer and a former WBC heavyweight champion. He is an ethnic Mordvin.-Boxing career:Maskaev, a former mine worker, began his career in the 1980s as an amateur boxer in the Soviet Union, where he held a victory over world champion Vitali...
in a rematch and Bermane Stiverne. He went on another loosing streak, going 0-7, and announced his retirement in July 2011 after decision loss to Jason Bergman.