Robbie Williams
- Date of Birth: 27th October 1953
- Died: 1st October 1994 (40 years old)
- Career length: 6 years 4 months
- Status: Deceased
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Nationality:
South Africa -
Birthplace:
Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
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Residence:
Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa
- Division: Heavyweight
- Height: 6ft 2"
- Stance: Orthodox
- BoxRec: Robbie Williams
- Debut: 19th August 1977
Biography
Robbie Williams, a South African heavyweight boxer born on October 27, 1953, in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, left an indelible mark on the boxing world despite his tragically short career and life. Standing at 6ft 2" with an orthodox stance, Williams was formidable in the ring. His professional debut took place on August 19, 1977, against fellow debutant Albertus Opperman, with Williams scoring a third-round technical knockout, marking the beginning of a six-year journey that would see him face some of the most formidable South African and world boxing opponents.
Williams' career was highlighted by his ability to take on seasoned fighters, including notable bouts against Kallie Knoetze and Jimmy Abbott. He fought Abbott on multiple occasions, resulting in a record of 2-2-1 against the South African heavyweight. This series of fights gave Williams the grounding he needed to fight at the world level. One of his most significant achievements was capturing the vacant South African heavyweight title by stopping Ron Ellis in five rounds in 1983.
One of the most memorable moments in Williams' career was his bout against Ossie Ocasio, a Puerto Rican boxer, for the vacant cruiserweight world title. Although Ocasio won by a split decision to become the first WBA world champion in the division, Williams' participation in this historic fight highlighted his ability to compete at the highest level. Unfortunately, his career was cut short when he was knocked out in the first round by Bennie Knoetze in a subsequent fight. Despite this setback, Williams' legacy remains as a tough and dedicated boxer.
Williams' final professional outing was against Ron Ellis, with the vacant South African Heavyweight title on the line. Robbie won by 5th-round Tko. His career concluded with 15 wins, 7 losses, and 1 draw from 23 bouts. His untimely death on October 1, 1994, at the age of 40 was a huge shock to South African sport and the boxing community especially.
Despite the brevity of his career, Robbie Williams left an enduring impact on South African boxing and remains remembered for his courage and tenacity in the ring.