Bruise brothers

George Robshaw, cousin of one-time emperor of clout Henry Wharton, has moved up the British rankings less than a year after linking up with his more illustrious relative.

Robshaw, aged 27, is now ranked number 13 in the legion of British light-middleweights and this after only six fights and less than a year after joining Wharton, who has been training both George and his younger brother by a year, Reggie.

There is growing talk of the elder Robshaw closing in on more high-profile clashes - his next scheduled bout is in Huddersfield next month. Top-rated promoter Barry Hearn is known to be keeping tabs on his progress.

The rated Robshaw has no doubt as to why he is on an upwardly mobile track - it's the ringcraft he is gleaning from Wharton, the one-time undefeated British, Commonwealth and European super-middleweight champion.

Wharton, whose only three losses in a glittering ten-year professional career were in fights for the world crown, is convinced that both cousins can capture titles with the elder sibling showing signs he can be a king of the ring George.

"They still have a lot to learn, but I am sure they are going to go places if they continue to put the work in and listen to what I'm trying to teach them," said Wharton, whose fervour for the sport he quit just under five years ago has been re-ignited by his spring into the training arena.

In a brief break from his rigorous Wharton-inspired training regime, light-middleweight Robshaw told the Evening Press: "Henry has been there and done it all and if I cannot learn from him, then I cannot learn from anyone.

"He has had all the experience and me and my brother are benefiting from it.

"I used to train in London, but there you were in a gym with so many other fighters and you hardly got five minutes alone with a trainer.

"When I came here to Henry I was still raw. My balance wasn't right, my stance wasn't right. He had a lot to do really. But because he has so much knowledge that he can give on a one-to-one basis, I am improving all the time.

"I go into the ring with a lot more confidence and I feel stronger because I have been doing the right things with Henry."

The protg, however, added that his cousin was far from an easy task-master at Wharton's self-built gym at his home on the outskirts of York.

Revealed Robshaw: "He doesn't pull any punches when he's telling you things. He likes to shout at us a lot of the time and he doesn't like to give us much rest. But he is doing it for our benefit."

Wharton confirmed he ruled the gym sternly, declaring: "The only thing against the lads is that they are not that young coming back into the sport. That's why I keep pushing them.

"Boxing does not do you any favours. It's a hard sport, it's a hard life and you've got to learn fast. The quicker you do learn the more success you can have, but you have got to be prepared to put in the commitment.

"I have told them they have to pick my brains every time they come here. The more you get to know in this sport, the more ring-craft you can call on, the more you will survive."

Updated: 10:22 Saturday, November 01, 2003