After embarking on an outstanding amateur career Robbie “Bomber” Peden turned professional back in late 1996, nearly ten years later he retired aged aged 33. Having gone 25-4(14) the highlight coming in February 2005 when in a rare appearance in his home country of Australia he won the IBF Super Featherweight title when he stopped Nate Campbell in the eighth round. The aforementioned amateur career saw him represent Australia in both the 1992 & 1996 Olympics. He then based himself in America for 10 years in which time he fought both Marco Antonio Barrera & Juan Manuel Marquez, so he’s well accustomed to the nuances of the game. Now 37, he works in the community with underprivileged kids though admits to being tempted by a return to the ring.
Hello Robbie, welcome to 15rounds.com
Anson Wainwright – It’s been three and a half years since you retired from the Boxing ring, what have you done since you retired?
Robbie Peden – I started a not for profit organization Indigenous Solutions Aboriginal Corporation where I coordinate and facilitate programs for disadvantaged youth and families. I manage The Fitzroy Stars Health and Fitness Academy and co own a mobile gym company ( Mobile Gyms Australia) with my mate and former Commonwealth champion Julian Holland . I also tutor Indigenous/ Aboriginal children at local high schools trying to better lives of Aboriginal children through out Australia.
Anson Wainwright – Do you have anything to do with Boxing today?
Robbie Peden – Anson I run the Fitzroy Stars health and fitness academy. Here the boxing program is run through out the year from Monday to Friday.
Anson Wainwright – I would imagine the best part of your career was winning the in 2005 when you stopped Nate Campbell for the Vacant IBF Super Featherweight title. Looking back now what are your thoughts on that win and what it meant to you?
Robbie Peden – It was my ambition to go to America to test myself against the best in the world not to fight at home with hand picked opponents. Luckily the opportunity came for me to fight for the title in Australia. Although I didn’t get paid by the promoter Tony Caradona it was still one of the greatest experiences I have had in my life.
Anson Wainwright – Looking at your record it struck me that you had 29 fights but only 2 of them took place in Australia. Why was this?
Robbie Peden – I never wanted to be a big fish in a small pool. I wanted to swim with the sharks, I even bit a few! Obviously I did things a little different then most but I am happy with the choices I made in my career.
Anson Wainwright – You were a road warrior fighting in America many times plus Poland & New Zealand, can you tell us about some of the experiences you had going to all those places?
Robbie Peden – I was based in America for 10 years, but fought in Poland, New Zealand and Vanuatu as well. Andrew Golota wanted me to fight on his undercard in Poland against a Polish Olympian. But travelling with the Australian National team for 6 years, well there wasn’t much I hadn’t seen.
Anson Wainwright – How did you first become interested and then involved in Boxing?
Robbie Peden – I only started boxing to get the girls! (Joking) My father Brian Peden was a fighter and also excellent trainer. He trained my mother’s brothers so it was a natural progression.
Anson Wainwright – I would imagine from fighting so many times in America that you have several friends in the Boxing community? Can you name them & tell us about some of those relationships?
Robbie Peden – Many friends indeed, Roger Bloodworth my trainer, well with out him none of my Professional career would have been possible. I think there are too many people to name whom I consider friends over there. I will say I lost 2 of my good mates last year Vernon Forrest and Arturo Gatti as well as my daughter, so 2009 wasn’t a good year for me!
Anson Wainwright – I’m sure you have seen some crazy things in the Boxing world or been involved in some amusing things. Could you share one of your favourite Boxing stories with us?
Robbie Peden – The training camp with Pernell Whitaker when he was getting ready for Delahoya. That camp was a blast, everyone playing practical jokes on each other. Very funny camp!
Anson Wainwright – You fought many top guys in your career with the legendary Marco Antonio Barrera & Juan Manuel Marquez being the two biggest names. What can you tell us about those fights?
Robbie Peden – Both legends and Hall of fame specials. As for the Marquez fight I spewed up in the 9th round. I entered that fight with a virus but as it was a great opportunity I didn’t want to let it get away from me like the Proposed Augie Sanchez fight.
The Barrera fight I had a pretty good camp but was looking after a friend whom had a lot of issues. Of course things didn’t work out for me and I wasn’t as focused as I should’ve been.
I would like to add I do not wish to take away anything from these tow great fighters victories but I wasn’t 100% for them fights.
Anson Wainwright – Just a few pounds above were you fought two Australians Michael Katsidis and Lenny Zappavigna are making waves on the world scene. What are your thoughts on them and how good do you think they are? What do you think happens when Katsidis fights Marquez?
Robbie Peden – Both Michael and Lenny have been very, very well managed. Michael is never in a boring fight and Lenny is still learning his craft. I think that they’re just below the top echelon in the light weight division at the moment.
I went to Stathi’s (Michael’s brother) funeral last month. Having known both guys for a long time I knew how close they were. It will be very difficult for Michael to won this fight on even terms let alone with this tragedy happening, but things like this can take people to greatness!
Anson Wainwright – What guys do you think could make an impact on the World scene that you guys have in Australia that perhaps aren’t so well known and are on there way up?
Robbie Peden – We are a country of only around 20 million people so out talent pool in very small. Boxing has changed and is more about manipulating the ratings and the media to make the fighters seem better then they really are. I actually very rarely watch or attend boxing because of this reason.
Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for the Boxing world and you fans?
Robbie Peden – I am seriously thinking of returning to boxing in 2011 to help bring attention to Aboriginal Men’s health. There is about a 15 to 20 year difference in the life span for Aboriginal men to non Aboriginal men in Australia. So I’d really like main stream media get behind my cause.
Thanks for your time Robbie.
Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com
Weekend Flurries – So far, and if we learnt anything in 2010 it was that your best laid plans are likely to be turned upside down, with several cancelations of big fights. It looks like an impressive 2011 calendar Bradley-Alexander on 29 January in Detroit, Montiel-Donaire on 19 February in Las Vegas, Lucian Bute fights in March & Manny Pacquiao’s next appearance will be on 16 April…A couple of interesting cards this weekend, Top Rank are doing their independant PPV in Anaheim, Ca i look for Donaire to outpoint Wladimir Sidorenko & Humberto Soto to stop Urbano Antillon late. Solid fight for Mikey Garcia against Olivier Lontchi, who’s been very active in 2010. I’m interested to see how Jessie Magdeleno & Gabino Saenz look early in there fledgling career’s. Also this weekend Saul Alvarez gets back in action against Lovemore Ndou, I think Alvarez will be the first to stop Ndou. In Scotland Ricky Burns makes the first defence of his WBO 130 against Andreas Evansen, I see Burns outpointing his Scandanavian challenger.
