In a sport that glorifies champions, knockouts, and undefeated records, one man carved out a legacy defined not by titles—but by sheer perseverance. Robin Deakin, once dubbed “Britain’s Worst Boxer,” defied disability, public ridicule, and over a decade of losses to become one of boxing’s most remarkable and unlikely figures.

Born in Crawley, Essex, Robin Deakin entered the world with severe talipes (club feet). By the time he was six, he had undergone 12 surgeries and only then could he walk without crutches. Doctors doubted he’d lead a normal life, let alone become an athlete.

But adversity became his training partner. Boxing, initially taken up to strengthen his legs, soon became a lifelong passion. As an amateur, he racked up over 75 fights—winning nearly 40—and even reached the semi-finals of the British Youth Championships. Against all odds, he turned professional in 2006.

Deakin’s pro debut was a dream start—winning a four-round bout against Shaun Walton at the iconic York Hall in London. But that victory would be the high point of an otherwise brutal career. Over the next nine years, Deakin lost 51 fights in a row—many of them to rising prospects. Often fighting with little preparation and short notice, he became the archetype of the journeyman: tough, available, and expendable.

His record became infamous. Critics and fans branded him "Britain’s Worst Boxer." Yet Deakin embraced the moniker with tongue-in-cheek defiance. “I’d rather be the worst boxer than the best nobody,” he once said.