Marquee Fight Approaches for Robertson
By Ben Tighe - Photos By Jesse Kelley
March 2nd, 2009

On a recent Saturday morning I caught up with super flyweight Antwan Robertson to get his thoughts about his upcoming match with fellow undefeated prospect Brad Patraw, scheduled for March 28 at Grand Casino Hinckley. I asked Antwan whether he had read my recent interview with Patraw, and he said that he had. I reminded him that Patraw had said he was confident of the win. “The reason he’s confident is because he beat me in amateurs. I’m way better than I was back then. I’m confident too.”

Five weeks before the fight I asked Robertson how his training is going, and as you might expect for a young and relatively inexperienced boxer, it’s been heavy on sparring. “I’ve been sparring with Wilton Hilario and his brother Jose. Starting next week we’ll be sparring with Hassan Wasswa and then Willshaun Boxley. My cousin Derek [Winston] will come and help me out too.”
I wondered whether it wasn’t difficult to stay committed to a conditioning regime when fights are infrequent and sporadic, but Robertson said “I don’t have any trouble staying in shape all the time because I play a lot of basketball and I run a lot.” He's fit, then? “Oh yeah!” And close to his targeted weight? “I’m naturally skinny. I’m only a pound over the fight weight right now.” I asked what else Robertson could tell me about his approach to this upcoming bout, and it wasn’t much: “Sean Hickman, he helps out a lot, and this is like the third fight he’s helped us [Robertson and coach John Hoffman] out.

During our first interview last spring, when I asked Robertson whether there was anyone he would like to fight, he impulsively volunteered Patraw’s name before deciding that he still had too much to learn. “Not yet,” he said back then. “I’m still learning the basics, then fundamentals.” I asked whether he had refined those fundamentals that he had felt he was lacking a year ago. Robertson shrugged. “I’ve learned a little bit, and I’m just in such good shape. I’ve been working really hard.”

Robertson was never more animated than when I mentioned Patraw’s prediction that Robertson would come out brawling and that Patraw would box him. “I can’t believe he said that! I’m a boxer, much more so than a brawler.” Shaking his head and smiling, Robertson said more to himself than to me, “No, I’m going to box him.”

I asked whether Robertson had any predictions of his own to make. “First Antwan Robertson is going to beat Brad Patraw. (laughs)
Then in the other feature (Anthony Bonsante facing Andy Kolle), Kolle’s got a good jab, but…I think Bonsante will win just because he’s an Uppercut Gym guy, if nothing else.” (more laughter) “No, he’s tough and he’s been in with better competition, so, Bonsante.”

Before parting ways with Robertson I asked him whether there was anything else he wanted to say. “Yeah. Good luck, Brad.”

CHECK OUT BEN'S PAST INTERVIEW WITH BRAD PATRAW

If you are interested in Sports Betting, odds, and expert picks, please check out the site links below!!

Sports Betting Champ
Doc's Sports Blog
Sports Betting Strategy
Sports Handicapping Experts
Sports Book Rules