Robert McCracken is a former British Middleweight Boxer and world title challenger from Birmingham, England. Robert worked as a wood machinist at Hoskins Cabinet Works,Bordesley,Birmingham before turning to boxing. He was affectionately known as "boxing Bob". McCracken turned pro in 1991 in the Light-Middleweight division. In February 1994 he won the British title by outpointing Andy Till, and defended it twice outpointing Steve "The Viking" Foster and Paul Wesley.
In November 1995 he officially moved into the Middleweight division, winning the vacant Commonwealth title by outpointing Canadian southpaw Fitzgerald Bruney. He would successfully retain the title twice by beating Paul Busby and Bruney again in a rematch, before relocating to the United States in 1997 and progressing up the World rankings.
In February 1998 he achieved a notable victory outpointing Lonnie Beasley, and over the course of four fights elevate himself to #1 contender status in the WBC rankings.
World Title fight
In April 2000 McCracken challenged American southpaw Keith Holmes for the WBC World Middleweight title. The fight was the main event of the UK show that preceded Lennox Lewis's high profile fight with Michael Grant in New York the same night.
To preserve his ranking McCracken had been inactive for a year and his ring rust showed, as he fell behind early and stayed there. The referee stopped the fight in the 11th round.
McCracken was inactive for another year training other boxers, before returning in April 2001 to fight highly regarded Howard Eastman, who now held the British and Commonwealth titles and a 31-0 record. The vacant European title was also on the line, however McCracken's long layoffs once again hurt him, after a close, tough fight McCracken wilted in the 10th round to Eastman's power punching.
Retirement
McCracken retired from fighting after the Eastman loss, and now works for Hennessy Sports training British Light Welterweight Champion Lenny Daws, Commonwealth Welterweight Champion John O'Donnell and WBC Super Middleweight Champion Carl Froch, Rob also trained former rival Howard Eastman.
McCracken's record is 33-2 (19 knockouts)
In 2009 Rob McCracken was hired by the British Amateur Boxing Association (BABA) as the Performance Director and he will oversee the GB Olympic programme and team, which is based at English Institute of Sport - Sheffield.
Rob is regarded as one of the best boxing trainers in the World.
