Robert Berridge


Robert Berridge is a retired New Zealand professional light heavyweight boxer.
Berridge is a boxer who has had over thirty fights, five boxing titles and has peaked at ninth on the World Boxing Organization and twelfth on the World Boxing Association rankings in 2014. In 2009, Berridge made his debut against Royden Lee at ABA Stadium. In 2015 in South Africa, Berridge had his first World title bout against Thomas Oosthuizen for the International Boxing Organisation Light Heavyweight title. Berridge lost by unanimous decision. Berridge second World title shot was for the Interim WBA World Light Heavyweight Title against Dmitry Bivol. Berridge lost by TKO.

Professional career

Pre Duco, First boxing titles 2009–2013

Berridge suffered his first lost against Blake Caparello by unanimous decision. Berridge took the fight with very short notice. A rematch has always been talked about with Caparello, but nothing has ever came from it. The NZPBAssn presented Berridge with the Association's New Zealand Light Heavyweight title. His manager/promoter Vasco Kovacevic tried six boxers of standing to match Robbie for the title. All declined for various reasons. Robbie made a token appearance in the ring in a 4 x 3 bout against Moses Ioelu. Moses was the only one who volunteered to get in the ring, but with only 4 x 3's. Robbie was presented the belt after the bout. Berridge got the biggest win of his career after he defeated world ranked Australian Boxer Serge Yannick. Berridge won by TKO in the 8th round. Berridge won his first regional title against Shintaro Matsumoto in July 2013 at ABA Stadium for the WBC Asian Boxing Council Light Heavyweight title. Berridge won by TKO in the fifth round.

Under Duco Boxing 2013–2014

Berridge won his next two boxing title against New Zealander Daniel MacKinnon for the vacant WBA Pan Asian Boxing Association title and vacant WBO Oriental title. Berridge won TKO in the tenth round. MacKinnon was rushed to hospital after the fight. After a CT scan it was discovered that MacKinnon had a brain bleed and had emergency surgery. MacKinnon was in a coma however woke up less than 24 hours after the surgery. MacKinnon made a fully recover however his boxing career is over. Berridge suffered his second lose to Lepikhin in his first fight in America, losing both of his regional titles. Lepikhin is five and half inches taller and had a four-inch reach advantage. Berridge lost by TKO in the fifth round. While under Duco he reached 22nd on Boxrec, 10th in WBO, 12th in WBA and including being his 4 wins on Duco Event fight nights, he had a 9 win streak, including wins over Mariano Jose Riva, Daniel MacKinnon, Kerry Foley, Rogerio Damasco and more.

Post Duco, IBO World title, Tournament, NZ title defense 2015–2016

Berridge went for his first world title in June 2015 against IBO Champion Thomas Oosthuizen in South Africa. Berridge also took this fight at short notice. Controversy came around this bout as Oosthuizen did not make weight. When given the opportunity came to give Oosthuizen two hours to shed off the excess weight, he came weighing even more than the first weigh in. There has been reports that promoters try to convince Berridge's team to postpone the bout, however the bout went on. The World Title was declared vacant with the stipulation added that if Oosthuizen won the title will remain vacant, however if Berridge won he would be the new World Champion. Also thirty percent of Oosthuizen's purse was forfeited to Berridge. Berridge unfortunately suffered his third lose of his career by Unanimous Decisionand the title remain vacant. In November 2015 Berridge competed in the Super Eight Boxing Tournament. Usually the Super 8 is a one night eight man tournament, However the Super 8 rebranded into 2 four man tournaments in one night. The other men in the tournament are Christchurch's Reece Papuni & Brad Riddell and Auckland's Sefo Falekaono. Both Berridge and Papuni won their first fights, with both bouts going the extra round due to original score ending in a draw. Berridge fought Sefo Falekaono in the first round in the tournament. Berridge took on Papuni in the finals with the bout again going into the 4th round due to original score ending in a draw. The bout ended with Papuni winning the bout by Unanimous decision. In July 2016, Sam Rapira Announced that he will be self-promoting his 8th show with Rapira taking on Berridge in the main event. This is one of New Zealand's most talked about dream fight in the light heavyweight weight division. The bout took place at TSB Stadium in September 2016. Berridge won the bout by unanimous decision. After the bout Berridge commented on how poor referee David Craig officiated the fight, with the lack of control and not stepping in when there was too much holding or wrestling. In October 2016, Berridge took on long time rival Adrian Taihia, defending Berridges New Zealand Light Heavyweight title for the second time. This bout has been five years in the making where the two call each other out multiple times, including a WWE like style from Taihia when Berridge finished fighting in a bout on PPV. The two were scheduled to face each other in 2013, however Berridge pulled out due to injury. During the weigh in, the two had a war of words in which resulted in push from Taihia, push Berridge into a couple of tables and breaking the contents on the tables. Berridge won the bout by unanimous decision. Taihia was showing a Floyd Mayweather like boxing style, but it was Taihia low punch output and Berridge aggression that won Berridge the bout. Shortly after the fight Taihia announced his retirement from the ring, stating that he felt he was robbed from the fight and that he lost his passion in the sport.

World Title Shots and Retirement 2017

In January 2017, Berridge announced on his Facebook page that he will be taking on Russia's Dmitry Bivol for the Interim WBA World Light Heavyweight Title. Berridge lost the bout in the 4th round by TKO, stopped by the ringside doctor due to a major cut. In May 2017, Berridge took on Canadian Ryan Ford for the Universal Boxing Organisation World Light Heavyweight title. Due to a head clash in round 6, it caused a bad cut to Berridge which happens regularly for Berridge. The bout stopped in round 7 due to the cut being bad, with Ford winning on points by Technical Decision. A week after the fight, Berridge announced on his Facebook that he is retiring from professional boxing.

Comeback 2018

In April 2018, Berridge announce he will be making a comeback in the Cruiserweight division. However, due to a broken hand during training he was not able to compete and the injury required surgery. On 14 December 14 2018, Berridge made his return into the ring at ABA Stadium against Bordin Peepueh, but staying in the light heavyweight division. Peepueh continuously stayed on the back foot as Berridge hunted down his opponent in the ring. Berridge knocked his opponent down twice before the referee waived it off in the first round.

Controversy

In December 2014 Berridge became highly intoxicated at a Duco Events Fight for Life in Hamilton, New Zealand. Due to his training regime he did not usually drink and became highly intoxicated as a result. On the way back home Berridge jumped out of the car that his manager was driving on the way back to his home to Auckland with Berridge and his wife,The car was going 100 km/hr. When Berridge's wife tried to get him back in the car, Berridge lashed out arms flailing. The manager and Berridge's wife decided to leave him there while Berridge himself tried to walk and hitchhike home the next morning. Once Berridge got home he immediately searched up the government anti-violence It's Not Ok! website and enrolled himself into a family violence course. Shortly after this had happen Duco Event's released Berridge out of there stable and his contract. Berridge was signed to a six-year contract with Duco but only fought three times under the contract which may have led to his increasing frustration under Duco and not being on the Fight for Life. Since the incident Berridge has been highly apologetic to the people he disappointed with his behaviour.
In May 2016, Berridge had pulled out of a fight on Joseph Parker vs Carlos Takam undercard due to neck injury. Berridge was scheduled to fight Joseph Kwadjo, however Berridge was replaced by Nikolas Charalampous. Berridge Stated that the fight was hard to come about as Duco Events were refusing to pay Berridge, making him and his team having to pay the purse for both him and his opponent and other benefits such as flights and accommodation. After Berridge pulled out, Duco found and paid for an opponent without reimbursing Berridge.

Professional boxing titles

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
39 To be announced15 June 2019 ABA Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
38Win30–7–1 Bordin PeepuehKO1, 2:1914 December 2018 ABA Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
37Loss29–7–1 Ryan Ford7, 3:0027 May 2017 Resorts World Sentosa, Sentosa, SingaporeFor UBO light heavyweight title
36Loss29–6–1 Dmitry BivolTKO4, 0:4723 February 2017 Forum, Nizhny Tagil, RussiaFor WBA interim light heavyweight title
35Win29–5–1 Adrian TaihiaUD1028 October 2016 ASB Stadium, Auckland, New ZealandRetained NZPBA light heavyweight title
34Win28–5–1 Sam RapiraUD816 September 2016 TSB Stadium, New Plymouth, New Zealand
33Loss27–5–1 Eleider ÁlvarezUD1029 July 2016 Centre Vidéotron, Quebec City, Canada
32Loss27–4–1 Reece Papuni43 November 2015 SkyCity Convention Centre, Auckland, New ZealandSuper 8 Boxing Tournament: light heavyweight final
31Win27–3–1 Sefo FalekaonoUD43 November 2015 SkyCity Convention Centre, Auckland, New ZealandSuper 8 Boxing Tournament: light heavyweight semi-final
30Loss26–3–1 Thomas OosthuizenUD126 June 2015 Emperors Palace, Johannesburg, South AfricaFor vacant IBO light heavyweight title
29Win26–2–1 Andrew RobinsonUD1025 April 2015 Springvale Stadium, Whanganui, New ZealandRetained NZPBA light heavyweight title;
Won vacant IBO Oceania light heavyweight
28Win25–2–1 Togasilimai LetoaTKO5, 1:186 March 2015 Royal Exhibition Building, Melbourne, Australia
27Loss24–2–1 Vasily LepikhinTKO5, 1:049 August 2014 Sands Bethlehem Event Center, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, USLost PABA and WBO Oriental light heavyweight titles
26Win24–1–1 Rogerio DamascoTKO1, 2:165 July 2014 Vodafone Events Centre, Auckland, New ZealandRetained PABA and WBO Oriental light heavyweight titles
25Win23–1–1 Kerry FoleyTKO10, 2:1219 February 2014 Hordern Pavilion, Sydney, AustraliaRetained PABA light heavyweight title
24Win22–1–1 Daniel MacKinnonTKO10, 2:5116 November 2013 Claudelands Arena, Hamilton, New ZealandWon vacant PABA and WBO Oriental light heavyweight titles
23Win21–1–1 Mariano Jose RivaKO3, 0:3210 October 2013 The Trusts Arena, Auckland, New Zealand
22Win20–1–1 Shintaro MatsumotoTKO5, 1:405 July 2013 ABA Stadium, Auckland, New ZealandWon vacant WBC-ABC light heavyweight title
21Win19–1–1 Serge YannickTKO8, 1:2518 April 2013 Croatian Club, Melbourne, Australia
20Win18–1–1 Moses IoeluTKO3 28 March 2013 ABA Stadium, Auckland, New ZealandWon vacant NZPBA light heavyweight title
19Win17–1–1 Peter Tovi'oTKO3 20 December 2012 ABA Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
18Win16–1–1 Joel CaseyTKO2, 1:095 October 2012 Croatian Club, Melbourne, Australia
17Loss15–1–1 Blake CaparelloUD1018 May 2012 Melbourne Pavilion, Melbourne, Australia
16Win15–0–1 Peter Tovi'oTKO1, 2:5920 April 2012 The Corporate Box, Auckland, New Zealand
15Win14–0–1 Dechapon SuwunnalirdUD631 March 2012 ASB Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
14Win13–0–1 Faimasasa Tavu'iTKO4, 1:048 February 2012 Claudelands Arena, Hamilton, New Zealand
13Win12–0–1 Trent BroadhurstKO5, 2:5928 October 2011 Mansfield Tavern, Brisbane, Australia
12Win11–0–1 Peter Tovi'oTKO2, 1:1225 August 2011 Takapuna Rugby Football Club, Auckland, New Zealand
11Draw10–0–1 Kerry Foley620 July 2011 Entertainment Centre, Sydney, Australia
10Win10–0 Moses Ioelu2, 1:3017 June 2011 ABA Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
9Win9–0 Fale SiaoloaTKO4 28 May 2011 ABA Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
8Win8–0 Fale SiaoloaUD626 February 2011 ABA Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
7Win7–0 Roman HuntTKO2, 2:5930 October 2010 ASB Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
6Win6–0 Moses IoeluTKO1, 0:2727 August 2010 ABA Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
5Win5–0 Monty FilimaeaKO2 21 May 2010 Northcote Birkenhead Rugby Club, Auckland, New Zealand
4Win4–0 Areta GilbertTKO3, 2:4331 March 2010 The Trusts Arena, Auckland, New Zealand
3Win3–0 Faimasasa Tavu'i631 July 2009 Northcote Birkenhead Rugby Club, Auckland, New Zealand
2Win2–0 Jamie Waru2, 1:106 June 2009 Lagoon Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand
1Win1–0 Royden Lee1, 1:5223 April 2009 ABA Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand