Andrew Robinson has vowed to see off Damian Jonak for good when the two lock horns in a revenge or repeat scenario.
Three-and-a-half years later from when Robinson stunned Jonak and took his ‘0’ on a grand stage, they will do it all again in Poland next Friday (November 26).
Robinson is determined to either silence the Polish crowd or capture their applause for a second time, showing no fear of a challenge he’s faced before.
Another defeat would leave Jonak, at the age of 38, facing an uncertain future, despite the last loss being just one on a 43-fight record, with one draw, from a 15-year pro career.
Robinson, a year his junior at 37, turned over in 2012 and has engaged in some memorable battles, which have been packed with thrills and spills.
‘D’Animal,’ from Redditch, was first a challenger to the WBO European super middleweight belt, where he was outpointed by Frank Buglioni, but climbed off the floor to see the finish.
He rebounded to become Midlands middleweight champion, stopping ‘Prince’ David Davis in the seventh, to lift his first pro crown.
Contentious points losses to Sam Sheedy and Lee Markham, the second for the English title, stunted his progress but, again, he came back fighting.
The IBO Continental strap came his way after a points victory over Nicky Jenman, but an injured eye led to another setback, against Mark Heffron, for WBO International honours.
Robinson was given little chance against Jonak, away from home against an undefeated former WBC Youth and WBC International boss, but pulled it off on a split decision.
He then challenged for the British title last year, but he world-rated Liam Williams dashed his hopes with an evil body attack, after all of 88 seconds.
Robinson has seen action since, though, racking up four rounds in a points whitewash over Ryan Hibbert on October 16. That took his pro record to 25 wins, five defeats and a draw.
A return with Jonak has been in the pipeline on multiple occasions, but the Englishman competing on foreign turf is adamant that nothing will stand in his way now.
He said: “This is the fourth time we have tried to make the rematch happen, so maybe it’s meant to be. I still think it’s an easy fight for me.
“I beat him comfortably, last time, and I’m like a whole new boxer now. I’ve assessed myself and the people around me and I feel like I’ve been reborn.
“I’ve got so much confidence in me, I’m doing things in the gym that I’ve never done before. I’m boxing better than ever and that doesn’t normally happen when you get older.
“With the improvements I’ve made, I feel like I’m the most dangerous middleweight in the country and I could do him some real damage.
“I’m going to smash him to bits and put this situation to bed, but I’ll enjoy doing it. Not many of us get to fight abroad and I’m doing it twice.
“I don’t think I ever got the recognition that I deserved for the win over him, but that’s the way it goes. As an occasion, I’ve never experienced anything like that before.
“It was a bit scary, at first, going out there in front of 20,000 people with all of the TV cameras there, but I showed them what I’m all about.
“They were deadly silent when I got in the ring and I left to a standing ovation, against their superstar. I love the Polish people and I can’t wait to put on a show for them again.
“I know I’m levels above him and he will be finished when he loses again to me. Everything is stacked in my favour. He hasn’t boxed since and I only fought last month.
“I’m always fit, I’m sure he’s worked hard in training and he can do all of the sparring he wants, but there’s still going to be ring rust.
“It was good to let my hands go (against Ryan Hibbert) and get those rounds in, but don’t expect Jonak to see the distance with me (over eight again). I’ll retire him, once and for all.”
