BACK IN THE RING: Robert Berridge and Andrew Robinson in action during their NZPBA light heavyweight title at the Rise of the Fallen boxing event in Whanganui. PHOTO/LEWIS GARDNER.
BACK IN THE RING: Robert Berridge and Andrew Robinson in action during their NZPBA light heavyweight title at the Rise of the Fallen boxing event in Whanganui. PHOTO/LEWIS GARDNER.
EX-PAT WHANGANUI boxer Robert Berridge has his next fights lined up and the second bout has been a grudge match over three years in the making.
The 31-year-old Berridge will fight on a CTP Boxing card at Westlake Boys' High School on August 13 and on the same night canwatch his old enemy Adrian Taihia compete, before the two men will finally meet on October 26 for Berridge's NZPBA light-heavyweight title.
Like two rottweilers snarling at each other through a chain-link fence, Berridge (27-4-1) and Taihia (15-1-2) have been linked to fight since 2013, with 33-year-old Taihia being very vocal about Berridge ducking him when he was poised to make a big impact overseas.
Injuries to both men and negotiation breakdowns saw the planned bout postponed on several occasions in 2013-14.
Each then went through personal problems as Berridge split with promoters Duco Events following an alcohol-related incident at the December 2014 Fight for Life in Hamilton, while Taihia was arrested and jailed on a drugs charge that October.
Taihia was released in December last year, while Berridge had a difficult 2015 as he lost a points decision to an above-weight Thomas Oosthuizen for the vacant IBO World light-heavyweight title, and was narrowly out-pointed in the final of the Super 8 tournament by Canterbury's Reece Papuni.
In addition to the two Westlake bouts, there is also the possibility of Berridge fighting Papuni at the July card in Christchurch on the undercard of Joseph Parker's next fight with Australian veteran Solomon Haumono.
However, negotiations with Duco will be delicate given past history, as Berridge had originally been scheduled for under card of the Parker vs Carlos Takam fight on Saturday, before withdrawing with injury.
On Friday, Berridge posted a picture of his contract on Facebook which revealed he and his team had to pay for his opponent's purse along with expenses like flights and accommodation.
"With this I was also not getting paid and with a new family this was hard to take on," Berridge said.
"I feel like I did well in my years with Duco and to be treated like this was disappointing.
"However, the team and I will not give up and will keep the fights coming."
