Robert McCracken pugile

Robert Chad McCracken CBE is a British former professional boxer who competed from 1991 to 2001, and has since worked as a boxing trainer. He once challenged for the WBC middleweight title in 2000. At regional level, he held the British super-welterweight title from 1994 to 1995; the Commonwealth middleweight title from 1995 to 1996; and once challenged for the vacant European middleweight title in 2001.McCracken worked as a wood machinist at Hoskins Cabinet Works, Bordesley, Birmingham before turning to boxing. He was affectionately known as "Boxing Bob". He represented England in the welterweight division, at the 1990 Commonwealth Games in Auckland, New Zealand, reaching the quarter finals.Boxing for Birmingham City ABC, he was runner-up of the prestigious ABA light-welterweight championship in 1989.McCracken turned pro in 1991 in the super-welterweight 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.