Boxing: Robinson has unification in his sights

CRITICS once sceptical of Steve Robinson's right to a world-class pedigree will have little reason to doubt him any longer after his performance in Cardiff on Saturday.

The Welshman emphatically overpowered Paul Hodkinson, the former World Boxing Council featherweight champion, who was expected to teach him a harsh lesson about world championship boxing.

Now, after two more defences of his World Boxing Organisation crown, the

25-year-old Robinson plans to take route one to a title unification. Next stop, though, is another all-British defence against Duke McKenzie, the three-times world champion, in Cardiff on 14 May.

The 12th round knock-out of Hodkinson rounded off a triumphant 11 months for Robinson, who came from nowhere to win the title at 48 hours notice last April.

Meanwhile, Hodkinson, 28, will debate his future after his first fight in 11 months since losing the WBC title to Gregorio Vargas.