PHILADELPHIA’S former lightweight contender Ivan Robinson is now 51 and taking it upon himself to make sure the Philadelphia way is passed down to future generations.
For many, Philly is a fight town first and foremost, and being the City of Brotherly comes second, with the Liberty Bell and the Rocky steps tied for third.
Robinson was a decorated amateur who won and lost in several contests with a young Oscar De La Hoya, ultimately failing to qualify for the 1992 Olympics, but the Philly hopeful also fought future professional notables including Thomas Damgaard, Michael Clark and Julian Wheeler, boxing in tournaments around the globe including Australia, Italy, Russia and Puerto Rico.
But Robinson’s real grounding came in the Philadelphia gyms, where character is born and discipline is shaped.
Robinson didn’t just learn the Philly playbook, he studied the history. He knew what was expected of him when he boxed in front of the knowledgeable Philly fans, who demanded competitive fights in order to part with their money at the Blue Horizon and at the National Guard Armory.
