[Rocco Del Sesto]

A new day.....

01/18/67 Wednesday
Solihull, England
Robin Webb – HW (2-0-0) vs. Derek Groombridge – HW (10-7-0)

First of a couple fights here in Solihull we'll see...

Robin Webb - Rating 1 UK
Heavyweight 1866-67
3 wins / 1 loss / 0 draws / 1 KO

Hometown: Southland, England

Rating by: Rocco Del Sesto

Won his first three fights against Allen Heath, Barry Rodney and Derek Groombridge then lost by 1st round KO to Terry Feeley and then dissappeared from the boxing scene.


Derek Groombridge - Rating 1 UK
Heavyweight 1965-67
10 wins / 8 looses / 0 draws / 1 KO

Hometown: Nottingham, England

Rating by: Rocco Del Sesto

Another club fighter knocking it out around his native England for a short period against other area clubbers. Guys that he fought included wins over Vic Moore, Clive Tranter, Len Rocky James, and Tommy Woods. He lost to Len Rocky James, Rocky Campbell twice, Terry Daly and Robin Webb. Defeated a Pat Roach who was fighting his first and only professional bout, in January 1966 for something called the Novice Heavyweight Competition. Derek won a 3 round decision. A month later in the Semi-final round of this competition, Groombridge lost by TKO in the 3rd to Alex Kelly(4-2-0,3).

The fight....
For both of this local club fighters here in England it’s near the end for both for careers going no where fast. In this 6 round bout, Webb ended up with the 6 round decision putting his record at 3-0-0, but it would turn out he’d have 1 more fight in him a little later in 1967. For Groombridge it did turn out to be the end as he hung up the gloves after this loss to Webb.
Our replay result had a somewhat different result. Webb handled thing handily enough through the first 4 rounds with Groombridge not able to mount much of anything against Webb. Finally in the 5th, Groombridge managed to stage some bit of successful punching but it was too little too late. A minute into the 6th and finally round, Webb lands a hard body punch that puts Groombridge down for a 4 count. Then about a ½ minute later Webb lands a hard combination then quickly follows with a sharp jab. Then a smashing hook and another quick jab leaving Groombridge clearly hurt. Then with a ½ minute to go the referee somewhat surprisingly steps in and stops the fight! It’s a TKO victory for Webb at 2:30 in the 6th and final round.