Hannah Robinson Defeats Charlie Sutton To Win Her First Professional Titles

Hannah Robinson Defeats Charlie Sutton To Win Her First Professional Titles

Hannah Robinson picked up the first titles of her professional career on Saturday night when she outpointed Charlie Sutton over ten rounds at the Vertu Motors Arena in Newcastle. Robinson won the Commonwealth Silver and IBF European super-lightweight titles courtesy of a unanimous points decision over Sutton. The scores of 99-96, 98-93, and 98-92 were all reflective of a good competitive fight. Both the winner and the loser will advance to better things.

It was Robinson who showed her class in the opening half of the contest. Up on her toes, Robinson demonstrated her old amateur pedigree, flicking out her jab and landing with enough frequency to open up an early lead that her opponent couldn’t claw back.

But even in defeat, Sutton (5-2) gave a good account of herself. The Bristol fighter bloodied the former amateur star’s nose in the closing rounds as Robinson was starting to feel the effects of her first ten-round fight. Sutton had a little more success in the closing rounds, but Robinson had already attained a handy lead on the cards that was more than enough to see her home.

I felt Robinson showed a little bit of everything against Sutton. As blood streamed from her nose, she tired slightly before finding her second wind in the final few minutes. As some of that early bounce waned slightly, Robinson came off her toes and started to plant her feet more, catching the advancing Sutton with some eye-catching shots. Going ten rounds for the first time, and at a brisk pace against a good opponent, is another box ticked for Robinson.

Robinson finished well, and she had a really strong 10th round, landing enough hard shots to have me thinking she might even get a late stoppage. But Sutton (5-2) gutted it out to hear the final bell. She deserved that honour.

The final round rally was a fitting climax for Robinson. Sutton was game, but I thought the former two-time national amateur champion just had a little too much for her. There is that perpetual chat about levels, and while that might be somewhat harsh of Sutton, Robinson showed us a touch of that on Saturday night. But the defeated fighter will undoubtedly come again. At 22, Charlie Sutton will only get better.

Robinson (6-0) now moves on, and the first titles of her professional career won’t be her last. A world ranking will follow, and Hannah Robinson moves ever closer to world honours. At 32, Robinson has time to get herself some more experience. A few more learning fights won’t do her any harm. But sooner rather than later, Robinson will find herself on the edge of a very big fight.

Photo Credit: Andy Futers