Robert McCracken

This article is about the boxer. For the Representative, see Robert M. McCracken.

Robert McCracken (May 31 1968) is a former British middleweight boxer and world title challenger from Birmingham, England. Robert worked as a wood machinist at Hoskins Cabinet Works, Bordesley, Birmingham before turning to boxing. He was affectionately known as "Boxing Bob". McCracken turned pro in 1991 in the Light-Middleweight division. In February 1994 he won the British title by outpointing Andy Till, and defended it twice outpointing Steve "The Viking" Foster and Paul Wesley.

In November 1995 he officially moved into the Middleweight division, winning the vacant Commonwealth title by outpointing Canadian southpaw Fitzgerald Bruney. He would successfully retain the title twice by beating Paul Busby and Bruney again in a rematch, before relocating to the United States in 1997 and progressing up the world rankings.

In February 1998 he achieved a notable victory outpointing Lonnie Beasley, and over the course of four fights elevated himself to #1 contender status in the WBC rankings.

World title fight

In April 2000 McCracken challenged American southpaw Keith Holmes for the WBC World Middleweight title. The fight was the main event of the UK show that preceded Lennox Lewis's high profile fight with Michael Grant in New York the same night.

To preserve his ranking McCracken had been inactive for a year and his ring rust showed, as he fell behind early and stayed there. The referee stopped the fight in the 11th round.

McCracken was inactive for another year training other boxers, before returning in April 2001 to fight highly regarded Howard Eastman, who now held the British and Commonwealth titles and a 31-0 record. The vacant European title was also on the line, however McCracken's long layoffs once again hurt him, after a close, tough fight McCracken wilted in the 10th round to Eastman's power punching.

Retirement

McCracken retired from fighting after the Eastman loss, and now works for the Hennessy Sports company, training numerous boxers. His most successful and high profile fighters to date are Carl Froch and former rival Eastman.

McCracken's record is 33-2 (19 knockouts)