Sugar Ray Robinson

Lore & Background

Robinson was a dominant amateur, but his exact amateur record is not known. It is usually listed as 85–0 with 69 knockouts, 40 in the first round. However it has been reported he lost to Billy Graham and Patsy Pesca as a teenager under his given name, Walker Smith Jr. He turned professional in 1940 at the age of 19 and by 1951 had a professional record of 129–1–2 with 85 knockouts. From 1943 to 1951 Robinson went on a 91-fight unbeaten streak, the sixth-longest in professional boxing history. Robinson held the world welterweight title from 1946 to 1951, and won the world middleweight title in the latter year. He retired in 1952, only to come back two-and-a-half years later and regain the middleweight title in 1955. He then became the first boxer in history to win a divisional world championship five times (a feat he accomplished by defeating Carmen Basilio in 1958 to regain the middleweight championship). Robinson was named 'fighter of the year' twice: first for his performances in 1942, then nine years and over 90 fights later, for his efforts in 1951. Historian Bert Sugar ranked Robinson as the greatest fighter of all time and in 2002, Robinson was also ranked number one on The Ring magazine's list of '80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years'. He was named the best boxer of all time, pound for pound, by the International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO) in both of its all-time ratings, in 2006 and 2019. Renowned for his classy and flamboyant lifestyle outside the ring, Robinson is credited with being the originator of the modern sports 'entourage'. After his boxing career ended, Robinson attempted a career as an entertainer, but it was not successful. He struggled financially from the end of his boxing career in 1965 until his death in 1989. In 2006, he was featured on a commemorative stamp by the United States Postal Service.

In Their Own Story

The night Leonard faced Thomas Hearns in 1981, the welterweight division's two biggest stars collided. Hearns, the "Motor City Cobra," had knocked out 30 of his 32 opponents. Leonard, the Olympic gold medalist, had never faced a puncher like him. For 12 rounds, they traded fire—Hearns landing jabs from distance, Leonard countering with hooks inside. In the 13th, Leonard found his moment: a right hand sent Hearns stumbling, and a flurry forced the referee to stop it. Leonard had unified the welterweight title in one of the greatest fights ever. Hagler was the favorite, but Leonard outboxed him over 12 rounds, using speed and movement to win a split decision. It was the biggest fight of the decade, and Leonard had beaten the third of the Four Kings.

Reader's Guide

Robinson was born Walker Smith Jr. in Ailey, Georgia, to Walker Smith Sr. and Leila Hurst. He was the youngest of three children. His father was a farmer who moved the family to Detroit. His parents separated, and he moved with his mother to Harlem at age 12. He originally aspired to be a doctor but dropped out of DeWitt Clinton High School in ninth grade to pursue boxing. At age 14, he used an ID card from a youth named Ray Robinson to enter a tournament, and the name stuck. A lady in the audience later called him 'sweet as sugar,' giving him the name 'Sugar Ray Robinson.' He idolized Henry Armstrong and Joe Louis. He married at 16, had one son named Ronnie, and divorced at 19. He reportedly finished his amateur career with an 85–0 record with 69 knockouts – 40 coming in the first round, though this has been disputed. He won the New York Golden Gloves featherweight championship in 1939 and the lightweight championship in 1940. He made his professional debut on October 4, 1940, winning by second-round stoppage over Joe Echevarria. He defeated world champion Sammy Angott, future champion Marty Servo, and former champion Fritzie Zivic in 1941. He faced Jake LaMotta for the first time in October 1942, winning by unanimous decision. He was named Fighter of the Year for 1942. He built a record of 40–0 before losing for the first time to LaMotta in a rematch. He defeated his childhood idol Henry Armstrong. He was inducted into the U.S. Army on February 27, 1943, served with Joe Louis, and was honorably discharged on June 3, 1944.

Did You Know?

• Robinson is often regarded as the greatest boxer of all time, pound-for-pound.
• He held the world welterweight title from 1946 to 1951 and won the world middleweight title in 1951.
• He was the first boxer to win a divisional world championship five times.
• He was named 'fighter of the year' in 1942 and again in 1951.
• He is credited with being the originator of the modern sports 'entourage'.