Sugar Ray Robinson
Encyclopedia
Sugar Ray Robinson was an African-American professional boxer. Frequently cited as the greatest boxer of all time, Robinson's performances in the welterweight
and middleweight
divisions prompted sportswriters to create "pound for pound
" rankings, where they compared fighters regardless of weight. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame
in 1990. Robinson was 85–0 as an amateur with 69 of those victories coming by way of knockout
, 40 in the first round. He turned professional in 1940 at the age of 19 and by 1951 had a professional record of 128–1–2 with 84 knockouts. 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. He defeated other Hall of Fame fighters such as Jake LaMotta
, Carmen Basilio
, Gene Fullmer
, Carl 'Bobo' Olson
, Henry Armstrong
, Rocky Graziano
and Kid Gavilan
. Robinson engaged in 200 pro bouts, and his professional career lasted nearly 26 years.
Robinson was a fluid boxer who possessed power in both hands and a fast jab. In 1951 TIME
said "Robinson's repertoire, thrown with equal speed and power by either hand, includes every standard punch from a bolo to a hook—and a few he makes up on the spur of the moment." Robinson stated that once a fighter gained a certain amount of skill, his boxing technique became reflexive.
Robinson was named the greatest fighter of the 20th century by the Associated Press
, and the greatest boxer in history by ESPN.com
in 2007. The Ring
magazine rated him the best "pound for pound" boxer of all-time in 1997, and its "Fighter of the Decade" for the 1950s. Muhammad Ali
, who repeatedly called himself "The Greatest" throughout his career, ranked Robinson as the greatest boxer of all time. Other Hall of Fame boxers such as Joe Louis
and Sugar Ray Leonard
said the same.
Renowned for his 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 struggled, and lived in poverty until his death in 1989. In 2006, he was featured on a commemorative stamp by the United States Postal Service
.
(according to his birth certificate) or Detroit, Michigan
(according to his autobiography), to Walker Smith Sr. and Leila Hurst. Robinson was the youngest of three children; his older sister Marie was born in 1917 and his older sister Evelyn was born in 1919. His father was a cotton, peanut, and corn farmer in Georgia, who moved the family to Detroit where he initially found work as a construction worker. According to Robinson, Smith Sr. later worked two jobs to support his family—cement mixer and sewer worker. "He had to get up at six in the morning and he'd get home close to midnight. Six days a week. The only day I really saw him was Sunday...I always wanted to be with him more."
His parents separated and he moved with his mother to the New York City neighborhood of Harlem
at the age of twelve. Robinson originally aspired to be a doctor, but after dropping out of De Witt Clinton High school in ninth grade
he switched his goal to boxing. When he was 14, he attempted to enter his first boxing tournament but was told he needed to first obtain an AAU membership card. However, he could not procure one until he was sixteen years old. He received his name when he circumvented the AAU's age restriction by borrowing a card from his friend Ray Robinson. Subsequently told that his style was "sweet as sugar" by future manager George Gainford, Smith Jr. became known as "Sugar" Ray Robinson.
Robinson idolized Henry Armstrong
and Joe Louis
as a youth, and actually lived on the same block as Louis in Detroit when Robinson was 11 and Louis was 17. Outside of the ring, Robinson got into trouble frequently as a youth, and was involved with a violent street gang. He married at 16. The couple, who had one son, Ronnie
, divorced when Robinson was 19. He finished his amateur career with an 85–0 record with 69 knockouts—40 coming in the first round. He won the Golden Gloves
featherweight
championship in 1939, and the organization's lightweight
championship in 1940.
. Robinson fought five more times in 1940, winning each time, with four wins coming by way of knockout. In 1941, he defeated world champion Sammy Angott
, future champion Marty Servo
and former champion Fritzie Zivic
. The Robinson-Angott fight was held above the lightweight limit, since Angott did not want to risk losing his lightweight title. Robinson defeated Zivic in front of 20,551 at Madison Square Garden
—one of the largest crowds in the arena to that date. Robinson won the first five rounds according to The New York Times Joseph C. Nichols, before Zivic came back to land several punches to Robinson's head in the sixth and seventh rounds. Robinson controlled the next two rounds, and had Zivic wobbly in the ninth. After a close tenth round, Robinson was announced as the winner on all three scorecards.
In 1942, Robinson knocked out Zivic in the tenth round in a January rematch. The knockout loss was only the second of Zivic's career in more than 150 fights. Robinson knocked him down in the ninth and tenth rounds before the referee stopped the fight. Zivic and his corner protested the stoppage; James P. Dawson of The New York Times stated, however, that "[t]hey were criticizing a humane act. The battle had been a slaughter, for want of a more delicate word." Robinson then won four consecutive bouts by knockout, before defeating Servo in a controversial split decision in their May rematch. After winning three more fights, Robinson faced Jake LaMotta, who would become one of his more prominent rivals, for the first time in October. He defeated LaMotta via unanimous decision. Robinson weighed 145 lb (65.8 kg) compared to 157.5 for LaMotta, but he was able to control the fight from the outside for the entire bout, and actually landed the harder punches during the fight. Robinson then won four more fights, including two against Izzy Jannazzo
, from October 19 to December 14. For his performances, Robinson was named "Fighter of the Year". He finished 1942 with a total of 14 wins and no losses.
Robinson built a record of 40–0 before losing for the first time to LaMotta in a 10 round re-match. LaMotta, who had a 16 lb (7.3 kg) weight advantage over Robinson, knocked Robinson out of the ring in the eighth round, and won the fight by decision. The fight took place in Robinson's former home town of Detroit, and attracted a record crowd. After being controlled by Robinson in the early portions of the fight, LaMotta came back to take control in the later rounds. After winning the third LaMotta fight less than three weeks later, Robinson then defeated his childhood idol former champion Henry Armstrong
. Robinson only fought Armstrong because Armstrong was in need of finances. By now Armstrong was an old fighter, and Robinson later stated that he carried Armstrong.
On February 27, 1943, Robinson was inducted into the United States Army
, where he was again referred to as Walker Smith. Robinson had a short 15 month military career. Robinson served with Joe Louis
, and the pair went on tours where they performed exhibition bouts in front of US troops. Robinson got into trouble several times while in the military. He argued with superiors who he felt were discriminatory against him, and refused to fight exhibitions when he was told African American soldiers were not allowed to watch them. In late March, 1944, Robinson was stationed at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, waiting to ship out to Europe, where he was scheduled to perform more exhibition matches. But on March 29, Robinson disappeared from his barracks. When he woke up on April 5 in Fort Jay Hospital on Governor's Island, he had missed his sailing for Europe and was under suspicion of deserting. He himself reported falling down the stairs in his barracks on the 29th, but said that he had complete amnesia, and he could not remember any events from that moment until the 5th. According to his file, a stranger had found him in the street on the 1st of April and helped him to a hospital. In his examination report, a doctor at Fort Jay concluded that Robinson's version of events was sincere. He was examined by military authorities, who claimed he suffered from a mental deficiency. Robinson was granted an honorable discharge on June 3, 1944. He later wrote that unfair press coverage of the incident had "branded" him as a "deserter." Robinson maintained his close friendship with Louis from their time in military service, and the two went into business together after the war. They planned to start a liquor distribution business in New York City, but were denied a license due to their race.
Besides the loss in the LaMotta rematch, the only other mark on Robinson's record during this period was a 10 round draw against Jose Basora
in 1945.
, which controlled much of boxing at the time, and was denied a chance to fight for the welterweight championship. Robinson was finally given a chance to win a title against Tommy Bell
on December 20, 1946. Robinson had already beaten Bell once via decision in 1945. The two fought for the title vacated by Servo, who had himself lost twice to Robinson in non-title bouts. In the fight, Robinson, who only a month before had been involved in a 10 round brawl with Artie Levine
, was knocked down by Bell. The fight was called a "war," but Robinson was able to pull out a close 15 round decision, winning the vacant welterweight title.
In June 1947, after four non-title bouts, Robinson was scheduled to defend his title for the first time in a bout against Jimmy Doyle
. Before that fight, Robinson had a dream that he was going to accidentally kill Doyle in the ring. As a result, he decided to pull out of the fight. However, a priest and a minister convinced him to go ahead with the bout. His foe, however, died from the injuries he sustained. Robinson said that the impact of Doyle's death was "very trying."
On the night of June 25, Robinson dominated Doyle and scored a decisive knockout in the eighth round that knocked Doyle unconscious and resulted in Doyle's death that night.
In 1948, Robinson fought five times, but only one bout was a title defense. Among the fighters he defeated in those non-title bouts was future world champion Kid Gavilan
in a close, controversial 10 round fight. Gavilan hurt Robinson several times in the fight, but Robinson controlled the final rounds with a series of jabs and left hooks. In 1949, he boxed 16 times, but again only defended his title once. In that title fight, a rematch with Gavilan, Robinson again won via decision. The first half of the bout was very close, but Robinson took control in the second half. Gavilan would have to wait two more years to begin his own historic reign as welterweight champion. The only boxer to match Robinson that year was Henry Brimm
, who fought him to a 10-round draw in Buffalo
.
Robinson fought 19 times in 1950. He successfully defended his welterweight title for the last time against Charley Fusari
. Robinson won a lopsided 15 round decision, knocking Fusari down once. Robinson donated all but $1 of his purse for the Fusari fight to cancer research. In 1950, Robinson fought George Costner
, who had also taken to calling himself "Sugar" and stated in the weeks leading up to the fight that he was the rightful deserver of the name. "We better touch gloves, because this is the only round," Robinson said as the fighters were introduced at the center of the ring. "Your name ain't Sugar, mine is." Robinson then knocked Costner out in 2 minutes and 49 seconds.
state middleweight title in 1950, Robinson defeated Robert Villemain
. Later that year, in defense of that crown, he defeated Jose Basora
, with whom he had previously drawn. Robinson's 50-second first round knockout of Basora set a record that would stand for 38 years. In October 1950, Robinson knocked out Bobo Olson
a future middleweight title holder.
On February 14, 1951, Robinson and LaMotta met for the sixth time. The fight would become known as The St. Valentine's Day Massacre. Robinson won the undisputed world middleweight
title with a 13th round technical knockout
. Robinson outboxed LaMotta for the first 10 rounds, then unleashed a series of savage combinations on LaMotta for three rounds, finally stopping the champion for the first time in their legendary six-bout series—and dealing LaMotta his first legitimate knockout loss in 95 professional bouts. LaMotta had lost by knockout to Billy Fox earlier in his career. However, that fight was later ruled to have been fixed
and LaMotta was sanctioned for letting Fox win. That bout, and some of the other bouts in the six-fight Robinson-LaMotta rivalry, was depicted in the Martin Scorsese
film Raging Bull. "I fought Sugar Ray so often, I almost got diabetes," LaMotta later said. Robinson won five of his six bouts with LaMotta.
After winning his second world title, he embarked on a European tour which took him all over the Continent. Robinson traveled with his flamingo-pink Cadillac
, which caused quite a stir in Paris, and an entourage of 13 people, some included "just for laughs". He was a hero in France due to his recent defeat of LaMotta—the French hated LaMotta for defeating Marcel Cerdan
in 1949 and taking his championship belt (Cerdan died in a plane crash en route to a rematch with LaMotta). Robinson met President of France Vincent Auriol
at a ceremony attended by France's social upper crust; following the ceremony he kissed the President's blushing wife once on each cheek, then repeated the two kisses at the request of press photographers. During his fight in Berlin against Gerhard Hecht
, Robinson was disqualified when he knocked his opponent with a punch to the kidney: a punch legal in the US, but not Europe. The fight was later declared a no-contest. In London, Robinson lost the world middleweight title to Englishman Randy Turpin
in a sensational bout. Three months later in a rematch in front of 60,000 fans at the Polo Grounds
, he knocked Turpin out in ten rounds to recover the title. In that bout Robinson was leading on the cards but was cut by Turpin. With the fight in jeopardy, Robinson let loose on Turpin, knocking him down, then getting him to the ropes and unleashing a series of punches that caused the referee to stop the bout. Following Robinson's victory, residents of Harlem danced in the streets. In 1951, Robinson was named Ring Magazine's "Fighter of the Year" for the second time.
In 1952, he fought a rematch with Olson, winning by a decision. He next defeated former champion Rocky Graziano
by a third-round knockout, then challenged world light heavyweight
champion Joey Maxim
. In the Yankee Stadium bout with Maxim, Robinson built a lead on all three judges' scorecards, but the 103 °F (39.4 °C) temperature in the ring took its toll. The referee, Ruby Goldstein
, was the first victim of the heat, and had to be replaced by referee Ray Miller. The fast-moving Robinson was the heat's next victim – at the end of round 13, he collapsed and failed to answer the bell for the next round, suffering the only knockout of his career.
After the Maxim bout, Robinson gave up his title and retired with a record of 131-3-1-1. He began a career in show business, singing and tap dancing. In his autobiography, he stated that in the weeks leading up to his debut as a dancer in France, he trained harder than he ever had as a boxer. After about three years, the decline of his businesses and the lack of success in his performing career made him decide to return to boxing. He resumed training in 1954.
. He bounced back, however, and defeated Rocky Castellani
by a split decision, then challenged Bobo Olson for the world middleweight title. He won the middleweight championship for the third time via a second round knockout—his third victory over Olson. After his comeback performance in 1955, Robinson expected to be named fighter of the year. However, the title went to welterweight Carmen Basilio
. Basilio's handlers had lobbied heavily for it on the basis that he had never won the award, and Robinson later described this as the biggest disappointment of his professional career. "I haven't forgotten it to this day, and I never will" Robinson wrote in his autobiography. They fought for the last time in 1956, and Robinson closed the four fight series with a fourth round knockout.
In 1957, Robinson lost his title to Gene Fullmer
. Fullmer used his aggressive, forward moving style to control Robinson, and knocked him down in the fight. Robinson, however, noticed that Fullmer was vulnerable to the left hook. Fullmer headed into their May rematch as a 3–1 favorite. In the first two rounds Robinson followed Fullmer around the ring, however in the third round he changed tactics and made Fullmer come to him. At the start of the fourth round Robinson came out on the attack and stunned Fullmer, and when Fullmer returned with his own punches, Robinson traded with him, as opposed to clinching as he had done in their earlier fight. The fight was fairly even after four rounds. But in the fifth, Robinson was able to win the title back for a fourth time by knocking out Fullmer with a lightning fast, powerful left hook. Boxing critics have referred to the left-hook which knocked out Fullmer as "the perfect punch". It marked the first time in 44 career fights that Fullmer had been knocked out, and when someone asked Robinson after the fight how far the left hook had travelled, Robinson replied: "I can't say. But he got the message."
Later that year, he lost his title to Basilio in a rugged 15 round fight in front of 38,000 at Yankee Stadium, but regained it for a record fifth time when he beat Basilio in the rematch. Robinson struggled to make weight, and had to go without food for nearly 20 hours leading up to the bout. He badly damaged Basilio's eye early the fight, and by the seventh round it was swollen shut. The two judges gave the fight to Robinson by wide margins: 72–64 and 71–64. The referee scored the fight for Basilio 69–64, and was booed loudly by the crowd of 19,000 when his decision was announced. The first fight won the "Fight of the Year" award from The Ring magazine for 1957 and the second fight won the "Fight of the Year" award for 1958.
in the second round in Boston
in his only fight in 1959. A year later, he defended his title against Paul Pender
. Robinson entered the fight as a 5–1 favorite, but lost a split decision in front of 10,608 at Boston Garden
. The day before the fight Pender commented that he planned to start slowly, before coming on late. He did just that and outlasted the aging Robinson, who, despite opening a cut over Pender's eye in the eighth round, was largely ineffective in the later rounds. An attempt to regain the crown for an unheard of sixth time proved beyond Robinson. Despite Robinson's efforts, Pender won by decision in that rematch. On December 3 of that year, Robinson and Fullmer fought a 15-round draw for the WBA
middleweight title, which Fullmer retained. In 1961, Robinson and Fullmer fought for a fourth time, with Fullmer retaining the NBA
middleweight title by a unanimous decision. The fight would be Robinson's last title bout.
Robinson spent the rest of the 1960s fighting 10-round contests. In October 1961, Robinson defeated future world champion Denny Moyer
via unanimous decision. A 12–5 favorite, the 41 year old Robinson defeated the 22 year old Moyer by staying on the outside, rather than engaging him. In their rematch four months later, Moyer defeated Robinson on points, as he pressed the action and made Robinson back up throughout the fight. Moyer won 7–3 on all three judges scorecards. Robinson lost twice more in 1962, before winning six consecutive fights against mostly lesser opposition. In February 1963, Robinson lost via unanimous decision to former world champion and fellow Hall of Famer Joey Giardello
. Giardello knocked Robinson down in the fourth round, and the 43 year old took until the count of nine to rise to his feet. Robinson was also nearly knocked down in the sixth round, but was saved by the bell. He rallied in the seventh and eight rounds, before struggling in the final two. Robinson then embarked on an 18-month boxing tour of Europe.
Robinson's second no-contest
bout came in September, 1965 in Norfolk, Virginia in a match with an opponent who turned out to be an impostor. Boxer Neil Morrison, at the time a fugitive and accused robber, signed up for the fight as Bill Henderson, a capable club fighter
. The fight was a fiasco, with Morrison being knocked down twice in the first round and once in the second before the disgusted referee, who said "Henderson put up no fight", walked out of the ring. Robinson was initially given a TKO in 1:20 of the second round after the "obviously frightened" Morrison laid himself down on the canvas.
Robinson fought for the final time in 1965. He lost via unanimous decision to Joey Archer
. Famed sports author Pete Hamill mentioned that one of the saddest experiences of his life was watching Robinson lose to Archer. He was even knocked down and Hamill pointed out that Archer had no knockout punch at all; Archer admitted afterward that it was only the second time he had knocked an opponent down in his career. The crowd of 9,023 at the Civic Arena
in Pittsburgh
gave Robinson several standing ovations, even while he was being thoroughly outperformed by Archer.
On November 11, 1965, Robinson announced his retirement from boxing, saying: "I hate to go too long campaigning for another chance." Robinson retired from boxing with a record of 173-19-6 (2 no contests) with 108 knockouts in 200 professional bouts, ranking him among the all-time leaders in knockouts.
. During the ceremony, he was honored with a massive trophy. However, there was not a piece of furniture in his small Manhattan
apartment with legs strong enough to support it. Robinson was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame
in 1967, two years after he retired. In the late 60s he acted in some television shows. In 1969 he founded the Sugar Ray Robinson Youth Foundation for inner-city Los Angeles
area. The foundation does not sponsor a boxing program. He was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus
that was treated with insulin
. In Robinson's last years, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease
.A condition his boxing may have effected. He died in Los Angeles at the age of 67 and was interred in the Inglewood Park Cemetery
, Inglewood, California
.
, was born in 1939. Robinson met his second wife Edna Mae Holly, a noted dancer who performed at the Cotton Club and toured Europe with Duke Ellington
and Cab Calloway
, in 1940. According to Robinson, he met her at a local pool he frequented after his boxing workouts. In an attempt to get her attention he pushed her into the pool one day, and claimed it was an accident. After this attempt was met with disdain, he appeared at the nightclub she danced at and introduced himself. Soon the couple were dating and they married in 1943. They had one son, Ray Robinson Jr. (born 1949) and divorced in 1960. She appeared on the first cover of Jet
magazine in 1951. In April 1959, Robinson's eldest sister Marie died of cancer at the age of 41.
In 1965, Robinson married Millie Wiggins Bruce, who was several years his senior, and the couple settled in Los Angeles. When Robinson was sick with his various ailments, his son accused Robinson's wife of keeping him under the influence of medication to manipulate him. According to Ray Robinson Jr., when Sugar Ray's mother died, Sugar Ray could not attend his mother's funeral because Millie was drugging and controlling him. However, Robinson had been hospitalized the day before his mother's death due to agitation which caused his blood pressure to rise. Robinson Jr. and Edna Mae also claimed that they were kept away from Robinson by Millie during the last years of his life.
magazine article in 1951, "Robinson's repertoire, thrown with equal speed and power by either hand, includes every standard punch from a bolo to a hook—and a few he makes up on the spur of the moment." Robinson commented that once a fighter has trained to a certain level, their techniques and responses become almost reflexive. "You don't think. It's all instinct. If you stop to think, you're gone."
Robinson has been ranked as the greatest boxer of all time by sportswriters, fellow boxers, and trainers.*Review Joe and Teddy Pick Their Top Fighters, espn.com, accessed June 4, 2007.
* Smith, Michael David. ESPN Greatest Boxers List: Sugar Ray Robinson No. 1, aolsports.com, May 13, 2007, accessed June 6, 2007.
* Wiley. pg. 226
*Anderson, Dave. Sugar Ray Robinson, Boxing's 'Best,' Is Dead, The New York Times, April 13, 1989, accessed April 10, 2008.
* Trickett, Alex, and Dirs, Ben. Who is the greatest of them all?, bbc.co.uk, June 13, 2005, accessed June 6, 2007. The phrase "pound for pound
", was created by sportswriters for him during his career as a way to compare boxers irrespective of weight, and Hall of Fame fighters such as Muhammad Ali
, Joe Louis
and Sugar Ray Leonard
have ranked Robinson as the greatest pound for pound boxer in history. In 1997, The Ring ranked him as the best pound for pound fighter in history, and in 1999, he was named "welterweight of the century" and "middleweight of the century" by the Associated Press
. In 2007, ESPN.com featured the piece "50 Greatest Boxers of All Time", in which it named Robinson the top boxer in history. In 2003, The Ring magazine ranked him number 11 in the list of all-time greatest punchers.
Robinson was one of the first African Americans to establish himself as a star outside of sports. He was an integral part of the New York social scene in the 1940s and 1950s. His glamorous restaurant, Sugar Ray's, hosted stars such as Frank Sinatra
, Jackie Gleason
, Nat "King" Cole, Joe Louis
, and Lena Horne
among others. Robinson was known as a flamboyant personality outside the ring. He combined striking good looks, with charisma, and a flair for the dramatic: He drove a flamingo-pink Cadillac
, and was an accomplished singer and dancer, who once pursued a career in the entertainment industry. According to ESPN.com's Ron Flatter: "He was the pioneer of boxing's bigger-than-life entourages, including a secretary, barber, masseur, voice coach, a coterie of trainers, beautiful women, a dwarf mascot and lifelong manager George Gainford." When Robinson first traveled to Paris, a steward referred to his companions as his "entourage". Although Robinson said he did not like the word's literal definition of "attendants", since he felt they were his friends, he liked the word itself and began to use it in regular conversation when referring to them. In 1962, when Robinson returned to Paris—where he was still a national hero—in order to persuade him to make the trip, the French promised to bring over his masseur, his hairdresser, a guy who whistled while he trained, and his trademark Cadillac. This larger than life persona made him the idol of millions of African American youths in the 1950s. Robinson inspired several other fighters who took the nickname "Sugar" in homage to him such as Sugar Ray Leonard
, Sugar Shane Mosley
, and UFC fighter "Sugar" Rashad Evans
.
|- style="text-align:center; background:#e3e3e3;"
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Res.
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Record
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Opponent
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Type
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Rd., Time
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Date
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Location
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Notes
|- align=center
|Loss
|173-19-6
|align=left|
United States Joey Archer
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|173-18-6
|align=left|
Belize Rudolph Bent
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|172-18-6
|align=left|
Canada Peter Schmidt
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|171-18-6
|align=left| United States Harvey McCullough
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|style="background: #DDDDDD"|NC
|170-18-6
|align=left| United States Neil Morrison
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|170-18-6
|align=left| United States Stan Harrington
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|170-17-6
|align=left| United States Harvey McCullough
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|169-17-6
|align=left| United States Ferd Hernandez
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|169-16-6
|align=left| United States Harvey McCullough
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|168-16-6
|align=left| United States Stan Harrington
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|168-15-6
|align=left|
Mexico Memo Ayon
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|168-14-6
|align=left| United States Rocky Randell
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|167-14-6
|align=left| United States Earl Bastings
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|166-14-6
|align=left| United States Jimmy Beecham
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|style="background:#abcdef;"|Draw
|165-14-6
|align=left|
Early Modern France Fabio Bettini
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|165-14-5
|align=left| Early Modern France Jean Beltritti
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|164-14-5
|align=left| Early Modern France Jean Baptiste Rolland
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|163-14-5
|align=left| Early Modern France Jackie Cailleau
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|162-14-5
|align=left|
Nigeria Johnny Angel
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|161-14-5
|align=left| Early Modern France Yoland Leveque
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|160-14-5
|align=left|
Kingdom of England Mick Leahy
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|style="background:#abcdef;"|Draw
|160-13-5
|align=left| United States Art Hernandez
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|160-13-4
|align=left| United States Clarence Riley
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|159-13-4
|align=left| United States Gaylord Barnes
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|158-13-4
|align=left| Early Modern France Armand Vanucci
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|157-13-4
|align=left| Early Modern France Andre Davier
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|156-13-4
|align=left|
Belgium Emiel Sarens
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|style="background:#abcdef;"|Draw
|155-13-4
|align=left| Early Modern France Fabio Bettini
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|155-13-3
|align=left| Early Modern France Armand Vanucci
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|154-13-3
|align=left| United States Joey Giardello
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|154-12-3
|align=left|
Algeria Maurice Rolbnet
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|153-12-3
|align=left| United States Billy Thornton
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|152-12-3
|align=left| United States Bernie Reynolds
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|151-12-3
|align=left| United States Ralph Dupas
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|150-12-3
|align=left| Early Modern France Georges Estatoff
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|149-12-3
|align=left|
Spain Diego Infantes
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|148-12-3
|align=left| Kingdom of England Terry Downes
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|148-11-3
|align=left| United States Phil Moyer
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|148-10-3
|align=left| United States Bobby Lee
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|147-10-3
|align=left| United States Denny Moyer
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|147-9-3
|align=left| Canada Wilf Greaves
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|146-9-3
|align=left| United States Al Hauser
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|145-9-3
|align=left| United States Denny Moyer
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|144-9-3
|align=left| Canada Wilf Greaves
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|143-9-3
|align=left| United States Gene Fullmer
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|style="background:#abcdef;"|Draw
|143-8-3
|align=left| United States Gene Fullmer
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|143-8-2
|align=left| United States Paul Pender
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|143-7-2
|align=left| United States Tony Baldoni
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|142-7-2
|align=left| United States Paul Pender
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|142-6-2
|align=left| United States Bob Young
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|141-6-2
|align=left| United States Carmen Basilio
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|140-6-2
|align=left| United States Carmen Basilio
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|140-5-2
|align=left| United States Gene Fullmer
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|139-5-2
|align=left| United States Gene Fullmer
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|139-4-2
|align=left| United States Bob Provizzi
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|138-4-2
|align=left| United States Bobo Olson
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|137-4-2
|align=left| United States Bobo Olson
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|136-4-2
|align=left| United States Rocky Castellani
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|135-4-2
|align=left| United States Garth Panter
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|134-4-2
|align=left| United States Ted Olla
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|133-4-2
|align=left| United States Johnny Lombardo
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|132-4-2
|align=left| United States Ralph Jones
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|132-3-2
|align=left| United States Joe Rindone
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|131-3-2
|align=left| United States Joey Maxim
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|131-2-2
|align=left| United States Rocky Graziano
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|130-2-2
|align=left| United States Bobo Olson
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|129-2-2
|align=left| Kingdom of England Randy Turpin
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|128-2-2
|align=left| Kingdom of England Randy Turpin
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|128-1-2
|align=left| Belgium Cyrille Delannoit
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|style="background: #DDDDDD"|NC
|127-1-2
|align=left|
Germany Gerhard Hecht
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|127-1-2
|align=left| Early Modern France Jean Walzack
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|126-1-2
|align=left|
Netherlands Jan de Bruin
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|125-1-2
|align=left| Early Modern France Jean Wanes
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|124-1-2
|align=left| Algeria Kid Marcel
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|123-1-2
|align=left| United States Don Ellis
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|122-1-2
|align=left| United States Holly Mims
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|121-1-2
|align=left| United States Jake LaMotta
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|120-1-2
|align=left| Germany Hans Stretz
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|119-1-2
|align=left| Early Modern France Robert Villemain
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|118-1-2
|align=left| Early Modern France Jean Walzack
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|117-1-2
|align=left| Netherlands Luc van Dam
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|116-1-2
|align=left| Early Modern France Jean Stock
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|115-1-2
|align=left| United States Bobby Dykes
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|114-1-2
|align=left| United States Bobo Olson
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|113-1-2
|align=left| United States Joe Rindone
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|112-1-2
|align=left| United States Billy Brown
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|111-1-2
|align=left|
Puerto Rico José Basora
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|110-1-2
|align=left| United States Charley Fusari
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|109-1-2
|align=left| Early Modern France Robert Villemain
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|108-1-2
|align=left| United States Ray Barnes
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|107-1-2
|align=left| Canada Cliff Beckett
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|106-1-2
|align=left| United States George Costner
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|105-1-2
|align=left| Early Modern France Jean Walzack
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|104-1-2
|align=left| United States Aaron Wade
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|103-1-2
|align=left| United States Al Mobley
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|102-1-2
|align=left| United States George LaRover
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|101-1-2
|align=left| United States Vern Lester
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|100-1-2
|align=left| United States Don Lee
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|99-1-2
|align=left| United States Charley Dodson
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|98-1-2
|align=left| United States Benny Evans
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|97-1-2
|align=left| United States Steve Belloise
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|96-1-2
|align=left|
Cuba Kid Gavilan
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|95-1-2
|align=left| United States Cecil Hudson
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|94-1-2
|align=left| United States Freddie Flores
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|93-1-2
|align=left| United States Earl Turner
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|92-1-2
|align=left| United States Don Lee
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|91-1-2
|align=left| United States Bobby Lee
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|style="background:#abcdef;"|Draw
|90-1-2
|align=left| United States Henry Brimm
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|90-1-1
|align=left| United States Young Gene Buffalo
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|89-1-1
|align=left| United States Bobby Lee
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|88-1-1
|align=left| Cuba Kid Gavilan
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|87-1-1
|align=left| United States Bernard Docusen
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|86-1-1
|align=left| United States Henry Brimm
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|85-1-1
|align=left| United States Ossie Harris
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|84-1-1
|align=left| United States Chuck Taylor
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|83-1-1
|align=left| United States Billy Nixon
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|82-1-1
|align=left| United States California Jackie Wilson
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|81-1-1
|align=left|
Philippines Flashy Sebastian
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|80-1-1
|align=left| United States Sammy Secreet
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|79-1-1
|align=left| United States Jimmy Doyle
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|78-1-1
|align=left| United States Georgie Abrams
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|77-1-1
|align=left| United States Eddie Finazzo
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|76-1-1
|align=left| United States Freddie Wilson
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|75-1-1
|align=left| United States Bernie Miller
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|74-1-1
|align=left| United States Tommy Bell
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|73-1-1
|align=left| United States Artie Levine
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|72-1-1
|align=left| United States Cecil Hudson
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|71-1-1
|align=left| United States Ossie Harris
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|70-1-1
|align=left| United States Sidney Miller
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|69-1-1
|align=left| United States Vinnie Vines
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|68-1-1
|align=left| United States Joe Curcio
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|67-1-1
|align=left| United States Norman Rubio
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|66-1-1
|align=left| United States Freddie Wilson
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|65-1-1
|align=left| United States Freddie Flores
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|64-1-1
|align=left| United States Izzy Jannazzo
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|63-1-1
|align=left| United States Sammy Angott
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|62-1-1
|align=left| Canada Cliff Beckett
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|61-1-1
|align=left| United States O'Neill Bell
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|60-1-1
|align=left| United States Tony Riccio
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|59-1-1
|align=left| United States Dave Clark
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|58-1-1
|align=left| United States Vic Dellicurti
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|57-1-1
|align=left| United States Jake LaMotta
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|56-1-1
|align=left| United States Jimmy Mandell
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|55-1-1
|align=left| United States Jimmy McDaniels
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|style="background:#abcdef;"|Draw
|54-1-1
|align=left| Puerto Rico José Basora
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|54-1
|align=left| United States Jake LaMotta
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|53-1
|align=left| United States George Costner
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|52-1
|align=left| United States Tommy Bell
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|51-1
|align=left| United States Billy Furrone
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|50-1
|align=left| United States George Martin
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|49-1
|align=left| United States Sheik Rangel
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|48-1
|align=left| United States Vic Dellicurti
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|47-1
|align=left| United States Lou Woods
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|46-1
|align=left| United States Izzy Jannazzo
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|45-1
|align=left| United States Henry Armstrong
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|44-1
|align=left| United States Ralph Zannelli
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|43-1
|align=left| United States Freddie Cabral
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|42-1
|align=left| United States Jake LaMotta
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|41-1
|align=left| United States California Jackie Wilson
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|40-1
|align=left| United States Jake LaMotta
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|40-0
|align=left| United States Al Nettlow
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|39-0
|align=left| United States Izzy Jannazzo
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|38-0
|align=left| United States Vic Dellicurti
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|37-0
|align=left| United States Izzy Jannazzo
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|36-0
|align=left| United States Jake LaMotta
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|35-0
|align=left| United States Tony Motisi
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|34-0
|align=left| United States Reuben Shank
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|33-0
|align=left| United States Sammy Angott
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|32-0
|align=left| United States Marty Servo
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|31-0
|align=left| United States Dick Banner
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|30-0
|align=left| Canada Harvey Dubs
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|29-0
|align=left| United States Norman Rubio
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|28-0
|align=left| Canada Maxie Berger
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|27-0
|align=left| United States Fritzie Zivic
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|26-0
|align=left| United States Fritzie Zivic
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|25-0
|align=left| United States Marty Servo
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|24-0
|align=left| United States Maxie Shapiro
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|23-0
|align=left| Early Modern France Maurice Arnault
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|22-0
|align=left| United States Carl Guggino
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|21-0
|align=left| United States Sammy Angott
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|20-0
|align=left| United States Pete Lello
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|19-0
|align=left| United States Mike Evans
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|18-0
|align=left| United States Nick Castiglione
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
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|Win
|17-0
|align=left| United States Victor Troise
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|Win
|16-0
|align=left| United States Joe Ghnouly
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|Win
|15-0
|align=left| United States Charley Burns
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|Win
|14-0
|align=left| United States Jimmy Tygh
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|Win
|13-0
|align=left| United States Jimmy Tygh
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|Win
|12-0
|align=left| United States Gene Spencer
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|- align=center
|Win
|11-0
|align=left| United States Bobby McIntire
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|Win
|10-0
|align=left| United States Benny Cartagena
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|Win
|9-0
|align=left| United States George Zengaras
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|Win
|8-0
|align=left| United States Frankie Wallace
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|Win
|7-0
|align=left| United States Harry LaBarba
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|Win
|6-0
|align=left| United States Oliver White
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|5-0
|align=left| United States Norment Quarles
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|4-0
|align=left| United States Bobby Woods
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|3-0
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Greece Mitsos Grispos
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|align=left|
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|Win
|2-0
|align=left| United States Silent Stafford
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|1-0
|align=left| Puerto Rico Joe Echevarria
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Welterweight
Welterweight is a weight class division in combat sports. Originally the term "welterweight" was used only in boxing, but other combat sports like kickboxing, taekwondo and mixed martial arts also began to use it for their own weight division system...
and middleweight
Middleweight
Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
divisions prompted sportswriters to create "pound for pound
Pound for pound
Pound for pound is a term to describe how any two things compare when bearing in mind their varying quantities; for example, a tin of tomatoes weighing 250 g and costing $2.50 is more expensive, pound for pound, than one weighing 500 g and costing $4 .It is used in combat sports such as boxing or...
" rankings, where they compared fighters regardless of weight. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame
International Boxing Hall of Fame
The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta...
in 1990. Robinson was 85–0 as an amateur with 69 of those victories coming by way of knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
, 40 in the first round. He turned professional in 1940 at the age of 19 and by 1951 had a professional record of 128–1–2 with 84 knockouts. 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
Carmen Basilio
Carmine Basilio better known in the boxing world as Carmen Basilio, is an American former professional boxer who was a two weight world boxing champion...
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. He defeated other Hall of Fame fighters such as Jake LaMotta
Jake LaMotta
Giacobbe LaMotta , better known as Jake LaMotta, nicknamed "The Bronx Bull" and "The Raging Bull", is a former American world middleweight champion boxer...
, Carmen Basilio
Carmen Basilio
Carmine Basilio better known in the boxing world as Carmen Basilio, is an American former professional boxer who was a two weight world boxing champion...
, Gene Fullmer
Gene Fullmer
Gene Fullmer is a former American middleweight boxer and world champion.-Professional career:Fullmer began his professional career in 1951 and won his first 29 fights, 19 by knockout...
, Carl 'Bobo' Olson
Bobo Olson
Carl Olson was an American boxer. He was the world middleweight champion between October 1953 and December 1955, the longest reign of any champion in that division during the 1950s, although he is probably best remembered for his three knockout losses against Sugar Ray Robinson.His nickname, Bobo,...
, Henry Armstrong
Henry Armstrong
Henry Jackson Jr. was a world boxing champion who fought under the name Henry Armstrong. He is universally regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time by many boxing critics and fellow professionals.Henry Jr...
, Rocky Graziano
Rocky Graziano
Rocky Graziano, born Thomas Rocco Barbella in New York City , was an Italian American boxer. Graziano was considered one of the greatest knockout artists in boxing history, often displaying the capacity to take his opponent out with a single punch...
and Kid Gavilan
Kid Gavilan
Gerardo González , better known in the boxing world as Kid Gavilan, was a former world welterweight champion from Cuba...
. Robinson engaged in 200 pro bouts, and his professional career lasted nearly 26 years.
Robinson was a fluid boxer who possessed power in both hands and a fast jab. In 1951 TIME
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
said "Robinson's repertoire, thrown with equal speed and power by either hand, includes every standard punch from a bolo to a hook—and a few he makes up on the spur of the moment." Robinson stated that once a fighter gained a certain amount of skill, his boxing technique became reflexive.
Robinson was named the greatest fighter of the 20th century by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
, and the greatest boxer in history by ESPN.com
ESPN.com
ESPN.com is the official website of ESPN and a division of ESPN Inc. Since launching in 1995 as ESPNet.SportsZone.com, the website has developed numerous sections including: Page 2, SportsNation, ESPN 3.com, ESPN Motion, My ESPN, ESPN Sports Travel, ESPN Video Games, ESPN Insider, ESPN.com's...
in 2007. The Ring
The Ring (magazine)
The Ring is an American boxing magazine that was first published in 1922 as a boxing and wrestling magazine. As the sporting legitimacy of professional wrestling came more into question, The Ring shifted to becoming exclusively a boxing oriented publication...
magazine rated him the best "pound for pound" boxer of all-time in 1997, and its "Fighter of the Decade" for the 1950s. Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
, who repeatedly called himself "The Greatest" throughout his career, ranked Robinson as the greatest boxer of all time. Other Hall of Fame boxers such as Joe Louis
Joe Louis
Joseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
and Sugar Ray Leonard
Sugar Ray Leonard
Sugar Ray Leonard is an American retired professional boxer and occasional actor. He was named Ray Charles Leonard, after his mother's favorite singer, Ray Charles...
said the same.
Renowned for his 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 struggled, and lived in poverty until his death in 1989. In 2006, he was featured on a commemorative stamp by the United States Postal Service
United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for providing postal service in the United States...
.
Early life
Robinson was born Walker Smith Jr. in either Ailey, GeorgiaAiley, Georgia
Ailey is a city in Montgomery County, Georgia, United States. The population was 394 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Vidalia Micropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Ailey is located at ....
(according to his birth certificate) or Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
(according to his autobiography), to Walker Smith Sr. and Leila Hurst. Robinson was the youngest of three children; his older sister Marie was born in 1917 and his older sister Evelyn was born in 1919. His father was a cotton, peanut, and corn farmer in Georgia, who moved the family to Detroit where he initially found work as a construction worker. According to Robinson, Smith Sr. later worked two jobs to support his family—cement mixer and sewer worker. "He had to get up at six in the morning and he'd get home close to midnight. Six days a week. The only day I really saw him was Sunday...I always wanted to be with him more."
His parents separated and he moved with his mother to the New York City neighborhood of Harlem
Harlem
Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, which since the 1920s has been a major African-American residential, cultural and business center. Originally a Dutch village, formally organized in 1658, it is named after the city of Haarlem in the Netherlands...
at the age of twelve. Robinson originally aspired to be a doctor, but after dropping out of De Witt Clinton High school in ninth grade
Ninth grade
Ninth grade is the ninth post-kindergarten year of school education in some school systems. The students are 13 to 15 years of age, depending on when their birthday occurs. Depending on the school district, ninth grade is usually the first year of high school....
he switched his goal to boxing. When he was 14, he attempted to enter his first boxing tournament but was told he needed to first obtain an AAU membership card. However, he could not procure one until he was sixteen years old. He received his name when he circumvented the AAU's age restriction by borrowing a card from his friend Ray Robinson. Subsequently told that his style was "sweet as sugar" by future manager George Gainford, Smith Jr. became known as "Sugar" Ray Robinson.
Robinson idolized Henry Armstrong
Henry Armstrong
Henry Jackson Jr. was a world boxing champion who fought under the name Henry Armstrong. He is universally regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time by many boxing critics and fellow professionals.Henry Jr...
and Joe Louis
Joe Louis
Joseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
as a youth, and actually lived on the same block as Louis in Detroit when Robinson was 11 and Louis was 17. Outside of the ring, Robinson got into trouble frequently as a youth, and was involved with a violent street gang. He married at 16. The couple, who had one son, Ronnie
Ronnie Robinson (roller derby)
Ronnie Smith Robinson was an American roller derby skater and coach.The son of boxer Sugar Ray Robinson, Robinson grew up distant from his father, who divorced his mother shortly after his birth. Sugar Ray counseled him against following him into the world of boxing...
, divorced when Robinson was 19. He finished his amateur career with an 85–0 record with 69 knockouts—40 coming in the first round. He won the Golden Gloves
Golden Gloves
The Golden Gloves is the name given to annual competitions for amateur boxing in the United States. The Golden Gloves is often the term used to refer to the National Golden Gloves competition, but it also can represent several other amateur tournaments, including regional golden gloves...
featherweight
Featherweight
Featherweight is a weight class division in the sport of boxing. There are similarly named divisions under several Mixed Martial Arts organizations and in Greco-Roman wrestling.-Professional boxing:...
championship in 1939, and the organization's lightweight
Lightweight
Light-weight is a class of athletes in a particular sport, based on their weight.-Professional boxing:The lightweight division is over 130 pounds and up to 135 pounds weight class in the sport of boxing....
championship in 1940.
Early career
Robinson made his professional debut on October 4, 1940, winning via second-round knockout over Joe EchevarriaJoe Echevarria
Joe Echevarria was Lightweight/Featherweight champion of the American Army, American Navy and of the Philippine Islands. He was asked to and helped train Sugar Ray Robinson for his first professional fight in Madison Square Garden which he lost to Sugar Ray Robinson by a knockout in the second...
. Robinson fought five more times in 1940, winning each time, with four wins coming by way of knockout. In 1941, he defeated world champion Sammy Angott
Sammy Angott
Sammy Angott was born Samuel Engotti in Pennsylvania. He was known as a clever boxer who liked to follow up a clean punch by grabbing his opponent, causing him to be known as "The Clutch."...
, future champion Marty Servo
Marty Servo
Mario Severino, "Marty Servo" was the former world welterweight boxing champion. Servo began boxing in the mid-1930s. He became a professional boxer in 1938 and was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1989.-Amateur career:Servo had an impressive amateur career...
and former champion Fritzie Zivic
Fritzie Zivic
Fritzie Zivic , born as Ferdinand Henry John Zivcich , was an American boxer.-Biography:...
. The Robinson-Angott fight was held above the lightweight limit, since Angott did not want to risk losing his lightweight title. Robinson defeated Zivic in front of 20,551 at Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
—one of the largest crowds in the arena to that date. Robinson won the first five rounds according to The New York Times Joseph C. Nichols, before Zivic came back to land several punches to Robinson's head in the sixth and seventh rounds. Robinson controlled the next two rounds, and had Zivic wobbly in the ninth. After a close tenth round, Robinson was announced as the winner on all three scorecards.
In 1942, Robinson knocked out Zivic in the tenth round in a January rematch. The knockout loss was only the second of Zivic's career in more than 150 fights. Robinson knocked him down in the ninth and tenth rounds before the referee stopped the fight. Zivic and his corner protested the stoppage; James P. Dawson of The New York Times stated, however, that "[t]hey were criticizing a humane act. The battle had been a slaughter, for want of a more delicate word." Robinson then won four consecutive bouts by knockout, before defeating Servo in a controversial split decision in their May rematch. After winning three more fights, Robinson faced Jake LaMotta, who would become one of his more prominent rivals, for the first time in October. He defeated LaMotta via unanimous decision. Robinson weighed 145 lb (65.8 kg) compared to 157.5 for LaMotta, but he was able to control the fight from the outside for the entire bout, and actually landed the harder punches during the fight. Robinson then won four more fights, including two against Izzy Jannazzo
Izzy Jannazzo
Anthony "Izzy" Jannazzo was an American professional boxer who fought in the Welterweight Division...
, from October 19 to December 14. For his performances, Robinson was named "Fighter of the Year". He finished 1942 with a total of 14 wins and no losses.
Robinson built a record of 40–0 before losing for the first time to LaMotta in a 10 round re-match. LaMotta, who had a 16 lb (7.3 kg) weight advantage over Robinson, knocked Robinson out of the ring in the eighth round, and won the fight by decision. The fight took place in Robinson's former home town of Detroit, and attracted a record crowd. After being controlled by Robinson in the early portions of the fight, LaMotta came back to take control in the later rounds. After winning the third LaMotta fight less than three weeks later, Robinson then defeated his childhood idol former champion Henry Armstrong
Henry Armstrong
Henry Jackson Jr. was a world boxing champion who fought under the name Henry Armstrong. He is universally regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time by many boxing critics and fellow professionals.Henry Jr...
. Robinson only fought Armstrong because Armstrong was in need of finances. By now Armstrong was an old fighter, and Robinson later stated that he carried Armstrong.
On February 27, 1943, Robinson was inducted into the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
, where he was again referred to as Walker Smith. Robinson had a short 15 month military career. Robinson served with Joe Louis
Joe Louis
Joseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
, and the pair went on tours where they performed exhibition bouts in front of US troops. Robinson got into trouble several times while in the military. He argued with superiors who he felt were discriminatory against him, and refused to fight exhibitions when he was told African American soldiers were not allowed to watch them. In late March, 1944, Robinson was stationed at Fort Hamilton in Brooklyn, waiting to ship out to Europe, where he was scheduled to perform more exhibition matches. But on March 29, Robinson disappeared from his barracks. When he woke up on April 5 in Fort Jay Hospital on Governor's Island, he had missed his sailing for Europe and was under suspicion of deserting. He himself reported falling down the stairs in his barracks on the 29th, but said that he had complete amnesia, and he could not remember any events from that moment until the 5th. According to his file, a stranger had found him in the street on the 1st of April and helped him to a hospital. In his examination report, a doctor at Fort Jay concluded that Robinson's version of events was sincere. He was examined by military authorities, who claimed he suffered from a mental deficiency. Robinson was granted an honorable discharge on June 3, 1944. He later wrote that unfair press coverage of the incident had "branded" him as a "deserter." Robinson maintained his close friendship with Louis from their time in military service, and the two went into business together after the war. They planned to start a liquor distribution business in New York City, but were denied a license due to their race.
Besides the loss in the LaMotta rematch, the only other mark on Robinson's record during this period was a 10 round draw against Jose Basora
José Basora
José Basora, born February 8, 1918, in Lajas, Puerto Rico, was a professional boxer. He was married to Emilia Rivera de Jesus for 44 years and had two children and lived in New York City-the Bronx. Basora's wife died in 1988. José Basora died on January 4, 1993.José Basora fought professionally...
in 1945.
Welterweight Champion
By 1946, Robinson had fought 75 fights to a 73–1–1 record, and beaten every top contender in the welterweight division. However, he refused to cooperate with the MafiaAmerican Mafia
The American Mafia , is an Italian-American criminal society. Much like the Sicilian Mafia, the American Mafia has no formal name and is a secret criminal society. Its members usually refer to it as Cosa Nostra or by its English translation "our thing"...
, which controlled much of boxing at the time, and was denied a chance to fight for the welterweight championship. Robinson was finally given a chance to win a title against Tommy Bell
Tommy Bell (boxer)
Tommy Bell was an African-American boxer. As a professional, he faced legendary fighters such as Jake LaMotta, Fritzie Zivic, and Kid Gavilán. Bell fought for the welterweight title against Sugar Ray Robinson in 1946....
on December 20, 1946. Robinson had already beaten Bell once via decision in 1945. The two fought for the title vacated by Servo, who had himself lost twice to Robinson in non-title bouts. In the fight, Robinson, who only a month before had been involved in a 10 round brawl with Artie Levine
Artie Levine
Artie Levine is a former American boxer in the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions in the 1940s.-Overview:Levine, who was Jewish and from Brooklyn, was a legitimate contender who flattened 36 opponents with a devastating left hook.Levine, who stood at 5' 8", was a right handed slugger,...
, was knocked down by Bell. The fight was called a "war," but Robinson was able to pull out a close 15 round decision, winning the vacant welterweight title.
In June 1947, after four non-title bouts, Robinson was scheduled to defend his title for the first time in a bout against Jimmy Doyle
Jimmy Doyle (boxer)
Jimmy Doyle was an American welterweight boxer.-Pro career:Doyle made his debut as a professional boxer in 1941 and in 1946 lost to Artie Levine by 9th round TKO. After the bout, Doyle went to the hospital, suffering from a severe head injury...
. Before that fight, Robinson had a dream that he was going to accidentally kill Doyle in the ring. As a result, he decided to pull out of the fight. However, a priest and a minister convinced him to go ahead with the bout. His foe, however, died from the injuries he sustained. Robinson said that the impact of Doyle's death was "very trying."
On the night of June 25, Robinson dominated Doyle and scored a decisive knockout in the eighth round that knocked Doyle unconscious and resulted in Doyle's death that night.
In 1948, Robinson fought five times, but only one bout was a title defense. Among the fighters he defeated in those non-title bouts was future world champion Kid Gavilan
Kid Gavilan
Gerardo González , better known in the boxing world as Kid Gavilan, was a former world welterweight champion from Cuba...
in a close, controversial 10 round fight. Gavilan hurt Robinson several times in the fight, but Robinson controlled the final rounds with a series of jabs and left hooks. In 1949, he boxed 16 times, but again only defended his title once. In that title fight, a rematch with Gavilan, Robinson again won via decision. The first half of the bout was very close, but Robinson took control in the second half. Gavilan would have to wait two more years to begin his own historic reign as welterweight champion. The only boxer to match Robinson that year was Henry Brimm
Henry Brimm
Henry Brimm was an American boxer. A native of Buffalo, New York, Brimm finished his career with a 26–17–4 record. The highlight of Brimm's career occurred in 1949 when he managed a draw against Hall of Famer Sugar Ray Robinson—Robinson started his career 128–1–2, and was 85–1–1 when he fought...
, who fought him to a 10-round draw in Buffalo
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
.
Robinson fought 19 times in 1950. He successfully defended his welterweight title for the last time against Charley Fusari
Charley Fusari
Charley Fusari was an American boxer born in Italy. Charley was undefeated in his first 45 fights. In his 45th fight, he beat the great Tippy Larkin.Fusari had two world title shots during his career...
. Robinson won a lopsided 15 round decision, knocking Fusari down once. Robinson donated all but $1 of his purse for the Fusari fight to cancer research. In 1950, Robinson fought George Costner
George Costner
George "Sugar" Costner was a professional boxer. Costner was a major welterweight contender from 1944 to 1950....
, who had also taken to calling himself "Sugar" and stated in the weeks leading up to the fight that he was the rightful deserver of the name. "We better touch gloves, because this is the only round," Robinson said as the fighters were introduced at the center of the ring. "Your name ain't Sugar, mine is." Robinson then knocked Costner out in 2 minutes and 49 seconds.
Middleweight Champion
Robinson stated in his autobiography that one of the main considerations for his move up to middleweight was the increasing difficulty he was having in making the 147 lb (66.7 kg) welterweight weight limit. However, the move up would also prove beneficial financially, as the division then contained some of the biggest names in boxing. Vying for the PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
state middleweight title in 1950, Robinson defeated Robert Villemain
Robert Villemain
Robert Villemain was a French boxer. Villemain defeated Hall of Famers Kid Gavilan and Jake LaMotta during his career, and lost his Pennsylvania middleweight title to Sugar Ray Robinson in 1950....
. Later that year, in defense of that crown, he defeated Jose Basora
José Basora
José Basora, born February 8, 1918, in Lajas, Puerto Rico, was a professional boxer. He was married to Emilia Rivera de Jesus for 44 years and had two children and lived in New York City-the Bronx. Basora's wife died in 1988. José Basora died on January 4, 1993.José Basora fought professionally...
, with whom he had previously drawn. Robinson's 50-second first round knockout of Basora set a record that would stand for 38 years. In October 1950, Robinson knocked out Bobo Olson
Bobo Olson
Carl Olson was an American boxer. He was the world middleweight champion between October 1953 and December 1955, the longest reign of any champion in that division during the 1950s, although he is probably best remembered for his three knockout losses against Sugar Ray Robinson.His nickname, Bobo,...
a future middleweight title holder.
On February 14, 1951, Robinson and LaMotta met for the sixth time. The fight would become known as The St. Valentine's Day Massacre. Robinson won the undisputed world middleweight
Middleweight
Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. Early boxing history is less than exact, but the middleweight designation seems to have begun in the 1840s. In the bare-knuckle era, the first middleweight championship fight was between Tom Chandler and Dooney Harris in 1897...
title with a 13th round technical knockout
Knockout
A knockout is a fight-ending, winning criterion in several full-contact combat sports, such as boxing, kickboxing, Muay Thai, mixed martial arts, Karate and others sports involving striking...
. Robinson outboxed LaMotta for the first 10 rounds, then unleashed a series of savage combinations on LaMotta for three rounds, finally stopping the champion for the first time in their legendary six-bout series—and dealing LaMotta his first legitimate knockout loss in 95 professional bouts. LaMotta had lost by knockout to Billy Fox earlier in his career. However, that fight was later ruled to have been fixed
Match fixing
In organised sports, match fixing, game fixing, race fixing, or sports fixing occurs as a match is played to a completely or partially pre-determined result, violating the rules of the game and often the law. Where the sporting competition in question is a race then the incident is referred to as...
and LaMotta was sanctioned for letting Fox win. That bout, and some of the other bouts in the six-fight Robinson-LaMotta rivalry, was depicted in the Martin Scorsese
Martin Scorsese
Martin Charles Scorsese is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and film historian. In 1990 he founded The Film Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to film preservation, and in 2007 he founded the World Cinema Foundation...
film Raging Bull. "I fought Sugar Ray so often, I almost got diabetes," LaMotta later said. Robinson won five of his six bouts with LaMotta.
After winning his second world title, he embarked on a European tour which took him all over the Continent. Robinson traveled with his flamingo-pink Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
, which caused quite a stir in Paris, and an entourage of 13 people, some included "just for laughs". He was a hero in France due to his recent defeat of LaMotta—the French hated LaMotta for defeating Marcel Cerdan
Marcel Cerdan
Marcellin "Marcel" Cerdan was a French pied noir world boxing champion who was considered by many boxing experts and fans to be France's greatest boxer, and beyond to be one of the best to have learned his craft in Africa...
in 1949 and taking his championship belt (Cerdan died in a plane crash en route to a rematch with LaMotta). Robinson met President of France Vincent Auriol
Vincent Auriol
Vincent Jules Auriol was a French politician who served as the first President of the Fourth Republic from 1947 to 1954. He also served as interim President of the Provisional Government from November to December 1946, making him one of only three people who were heads of state of the French...
at a ceremony attended by France's social upper crust; following the ceremony he kissed the President's blushing wife once on each cheek, then repeated the two kisses at the request of press photographers. During his fight in Berlin against Gerhard Hecht
Gerhard Hecht
Gerhard Hecht was a boxer. Hecht fought for the middleweight championship against Sugar Ray Robinson in 1951. The fight ended when Robinson hit Hecht in the kidney, and Hecht could not continue. The fight was originally ruled a disqualification victory for Hecht but later changed to a...
, Robinson was disqualified when he knocked his opponent with a punch to the kidney: a punch legal in the US, but not Europe. The fight was later declared a no-contest. In London, Robinson lost the world middleweight title to Englishman Randy Turpin
Randy Turpin
Randolph Adolphus Turpin known as the Leamington Larruper, was an English boxer who was considered by some to be Europe's best middleweight boxer of the 1940s and 1950s.-Biography:...
in a sensational bout. Three months later in a rematch in front of 60,000 fans at the Polo Grounds
Polo Grounds
The Polo Grounds was the name given to four different stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City, used by many professional teams in both baseball and American football from 1880 until 1963...
, he knocked Turpin out in ten rounds to recover the title. In that bout Robinson was leading on the cards but was cut by Turpin. With the fight in jeopardy, Robinson let loose on Turpin, knocking him down, then getting him to the ropes and unleashing a series of punches that caused the referee to stop the bout. Following Robinson's victory, residents of Harlem danced in the streets. In 1951, Robinson was named Ring Magazine's "Fighter of the Year" for the second time.
In 1952, he fought a rematch with Olson, winning by a decision. He next defeated former champion Rocky Graziano
Rocky Graziano
Rocky Graziano, born Thomas Rocco Barbella in New York City , was an Italian American boxer. Graziano was considered one of the greatest knockout artists in boxing history, often displaying the capacity to take his opponent out with a single punch...
by a third-round knockout, then challenged world light heavyweight
Light heavyweight
In boxing, the light heavyweight is a weight division above 168 pounds [12 Stone or 76.204 kilograms] and up to 175 pounds [12.5 stone or 79.38 kilograms]), falling between super middleweight and cruiserweight...
champion Joey Maxim
Joey Maxim
Giuseppe Antonio Berardinelli was an American boxer. He was a light heavyweight champion of the world. He took the ring-name Joey Maxim from the Maxim gun, the world's first self-acting machine gun, based on his ability to rapidly throw a large number of left jabs.-Early career:Maxim was born in...
. In the Yankee Stadium bout with Maxim, Robinson built a lead on all three judges' scorecards, but the 103 °F (39.4 °C) temperature in the ring took its toll. The referee, Ruby Goldstein
Ruby Goldstein
"Ruby" Goldstein , the "Jewel Of The Ghetto," was an American boxer and prize fight referee.-Boxing career:Before he became a referee, Goldstein boxed professionally from 1925 to 1937...
, was the first victim of the heat, and had to be replaced by referee Ray Miller. The fast-moving Robinson was the heat's next victim – at the end of round 13, he collapsed and failed to answer the bell for the next round, suffering the only knockout of his career.
After the Maxim bout, Robinson gave up his title and retired with a record of 131-3-1-1. He began a career in show business, singing and tap dancing. In his autobiography, he stated that in the weeks leading up to his debut as a dancer in France, he trained harder than he ever had as a boxer. After about three years, the decline of his businesses and the lack of success in his performing career made him decide to return to boxing. He resumed training in 1954.
Comeback
In 1955, Robinson returned to the ring. Although he had been inactive for two and a half years, his work as a dancer kept him in peak physical condition: in his autobiography, Robinson states that in the weeks leading up to his debut for a dancing engagement in France, he ran five miles every morning, and then danced for five hours each night. Robinson even stated that the training he did in his attempts to establish a career as a dancer were harder that any he undertook during his boxing career. He won five fights in 1955, before losing a decision to Ralph 'Tiger' JonesRalph 'Tiger' Jones
Ralph "Tiger" Jones was a boxer during the 1950s. Trained by Gil Clancy, Jones was a fixture of televised boxing in the 1950s, known for an aggressive style that pleased fans. His overall record was 52 victories, 32 losses and five draws.He became a professional boxer in 1950. In 1955 he scored an...
. He bounced back, however, and defeated Rocky Castellani
Rocky Castellani
Attilio N. "Rocky" Castellani was an American boxer. He was born in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, to Attilio Castellani and Rose Isopi Castellani , who later moved to Margate City, formerly South Atlantic City, in Atlantic County in eastern New Jersey...
by a split decision, then challenged Bobo Olson for the world middleweight title. He won the middleweight championship for the third time via a second round knockout—his third victory over Olson. After his comeback performance in 1955, Robinson expected to be named fighter of the year. However, the title went to welterweight Carmen Basilio
Carmen Basilio
Carmine Basilio better known in the boxing world as Carmen Basilio, is an American former professional boxer who was a two weight world boxing champion...
. Basilio's handlers had lobbied heavily for it on the basis that he had never won the award, and Robinson later described this as the biggest disappointment of his professional career. "I haven't forgotten it to this day, and I never will" Robinson wrote in his autobiography. They fought for the last time in 1956, and Robinson closed the four fight series with a fourth round knockout.
In 1957, Robinson lost his title to Gene Fullmer
Gene Fullmer
Gene Fullmer is a former American middleweight boxer and world champion.-Professional career:Fullmer began his professional career in 1951 and won his first 29 fights, 19 by knockout...
. Fullmer used his aggressive, forward moving style to control Robinson, and knocked him down in the fight. Robinson, however, noticed that Fullmer was vulnerable to the left hook. Fullmer headed into their May rematch as a 3–1 favorite. In the first two rounds Robinson followed Fullmer around the ring, however in the third round he changed tactics and made Fullmer come to him. At the start of the fourth round Robinson came out on the attack and stunned Fullmer, and when Fullmer returned with his own punches, Robinson traded with him, as opposed to clinching as he had done in their earlier fight. The fight was fairly even after four rounds. But in the fifth, Robinson was able to win the title back for a fourth time by knocking out Fullmer with a lightning fast, powerful left hook. Boxing critics have referred to the left-hook which knocked out Fullmer as "the perfect punch". It marked the first time in 44 career fights that Fullmer had been knocked out, and when someone asked Robinson after the fight how far the left hook had travelled, Robinson replied: "I can't say. But he got the message."
Later that year, he lost his title to Basilio in a rugged 15 round fight in front of 38,000 at Yankee Stadium, but regained it for a record fifth time when he beat Basilio in the rematch. Robinson struggled to make weight, and had to go without food for nearly 20 hours leading up to the bout. He badly damaged Basilio's eye early the fight, and by the seventh round it was swollen shut. The two judges gave the fight to Robinson by wide margins: 72–64 and 71–64. The referee scored the fight for Basilio 69–64, and was booed loudly by the crowd of 19,000 when his decision was announced. The first fight won the "Fight of the Year" award from The Ring magazine for 1957 and the second fight won the "Fight of the Year" award for 1958.
Decline
Robinson knocked out Bob YoungBob Young (boxer)
Bob Young is a retired American boxer. Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Young fought Sugar Ray Robinson in 1959, losing via second round knockout.-References:...
in the second round in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
in his only fight in 1959. A year later, he defended his title against Paul Pender
Paul Pender
Paul Pender was an American middleweight boxer.-Early life:He was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, the son of William and Anna Pender...
. Robinson entered the fight as a 5–1 favorite, but lost a split decision in front of 10,608 at Boston Garden
Boston Garden
The Boston Garden was an arena in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. Designed by boxing promoter Tex Rickard, who also built the third iteration of New York's Madison Square Garden, it opened on November 17, 1928 as "Boston Madison Square Garden" and outlived its original namesake by some 30 years...
. The day before the fight Pender commented that he planned to start slowly, before coming on late. He did just that and outlasted the aging Robinson, who, despite opening a cut over Pender's eye in the eighth round, was largely ineffective in the later rounds. An attempt to regain the crown for an unheard of sixth time proved beyond Robinson. Despite Robinson's efforts, Pender won by decision in that rematch. On December 3 of that year, Robinson and Fullmer fought a 15-round draw for the WBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
middleweight title, which Fullmer retained. In 1961, Robinson and Fullmer fought for a fourth time, with Fullmer retaining the NBA
World Boxing Association
The World Boxing Association is a boxing organization that sanctions official matches, and awards the WBA world championship title at the professional level. It was previously known as the National Boxing Association before changing its name in 1962...
middleweight title by a unanimous decision. The fight would be Robinson's last title bout.
Robinson spent the rest of the 1960s fighting 10-round contests. In October 1961, Robinson defeated future world champion Denny Moyer
Denny Moyer
Denny Moyer was an American boxer who held the world light middleweight title between 1962 and 1963. He finished his career with a 97–38–4 record.-Early life:...
via unanimous decision. A 12–5 favorite, the 41 year old Robinson defeated the 22 year old Moyer by staying on the outside, rather than engaging him. In their rematch four months later, Moyer defeated Robinson on points, as he pressed the action and made Robinson back up throughout the fight. Moyer won 7–3 on all three judges scorecards. Robinson lost twice more in 1962, before winning six consecutive fights against mostly lesser opposition. In February 1963, Robinson lost via unanimous decision to former world champion and fellow Hall of Famer Joey Giardello
Joey Giardello
Carmine Orlando Tilelli was an American boxer who was the middleweight champion of the world from 1963 to 1965, and was better known by his professional pseudonym of Joey Giardello.-Early life:...
. Giardello knocked Robinson down in the fourth round, and the 43 year old took until the count of nine to rise to his feet. Robinson was also nearly knocked down in the sixth round, but was saved by the bell. He rallied in the seventh and eight rounds, before struggling in the final two. Robinson then embarked on an 18-month boxing tour of Europe.
Robinson's second no-contest
No contest (boxing)
No contest is a technical term used in some combat sports to describe a fight that ends for reasons outside the fighters' hands.-Boxing:...
bout came in September, 1965 in Norfolk, Virginia in a match with an opponent who turned out to be an impostor. Boxer Neil Morrison, at the time a fugitive and accused robber, signed up for the fight as Bill Henderson, a capable club fighter
Club fighter
A club fighter is a professional boxer who usually fights locally and has a mediocre record. Club fighters generally are not nationally recognized and have not won any fights that show the ability to win a championship. The term is often used as a pejorative for over-hyped fighters or for older...
. The fight was a fiasco, with Morrison being knocked down twice in the first round and once in the second before the disgusted referee, who said "Henderson put up no fight", walked out of the ring. Robinson was initially given a TKO in 1:20 of the second round after the "obviously frightened" Morrison laid himself down on the canvas.
Robinson fought for the final time in 1965. He lost via unanimous decision to Joey Archer
Joey Archer
Joey Archer, , is a retired boxer. Archer defeated Sugar Ray Robinson in Robinson's final fight in 1965 , and fought Hall of Fame boxers such as Emile Griffith and Dick Tiger....
. Famed sports author Pete Hamill mentioned that one of the saddest experiences of his life was watching Robinson lose to Archer. He was even knocked down and Hamill pointed out that Archer had no knockout punch at all; Archer admitted afterward that it was only the second time he had knocked an opponent down in his career. The crowd of 9,023 at the Civic Arena
Mellon Arena
Civic Arena is an indoor arena in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that is currently undergoing demolition. It was the first retractable roof major sports venue in the world, covering 170,000 sq. feet and constructed with just shy of 3,000 tons of Pittsburgh steel...
in Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh is the second-largest city in the US Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Allegheny County. Regionally, it anchors the largest urban area of Appalachia and the Ohio River Valley, and nationally, it is the 22nd-largest urban area in the United States...
gave Robinson several standing ovations, even while he was being thoroughly outperformed by Archer.
On November 11, 1965, Robinson announced his retirement from boxing, saying: "I hate to go too long campaigning for another chance." Robinson retired from boxing with a record of 173-19-6 (2 no contests) with 108 knockouts in 200 professional bouts, ranking him among the all-time leaders in knockouts.
After retiring as a boxer
In his autobiography Robinson states that by 1965 he was broke, having spent all of the $4 million in earnings he made inside and out of the ring in his career. A month after his last fight, Robinson was honored with a Sugar Ray Robinson Night on December 10, 1965 in New York's Madison Square GardenMadison Square Garden
Madison Square Garden, often abbreviated as MSG and known colloquially as The Garden, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in the New York City borough of Manhattan and located at 8th Avenue, between 31st and 33rd Streets, situated on top of Pennsylvania Station.Opened on February 11, 1968, it is the...
. During the ceremony, he was honored with a massive trophy. However, there was not a piece of furniture in his small Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
apartment with legs strong enough to support it. Robinson was elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame
International Boxing Hall of Fame
The modern International Boxing Hall of Fame is located in Canastota, New York, United States, within driving distance from the Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown and the National Soccer Hall of Fame in Oneonta...
in 1967, two years after he retired. In the late 60s he acted in some television shows. In 1969 he founded the Sugar Ray Robinson Youth Foundation for inner-city Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
area. The foundation does not sponsor a boxing program. He was diagnosed with diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus
Diabetes mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced...
that was treated with insulin
Insulin
Insulin is a hormone central to regulating carbohydrate and fat metabolism in the body. Insulin causes cells in the liver, muscle, and fat tissue to take up glucose from the blood, storing it as glycogen in the liver and muscle....
. In Robinson's last years, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease
Alzheimer's disease also known in medical literature as Alzheimer disease is the most common form of dementia. There is no cure for the disease, which worsens as it progresses, and eventually leads to death...
.A condition his boxing may have effected. He died in Los Angeles at the age of 67 and was interred in the Inglewood Park Cemetery
Inglewood Park Cemetery
Inglewood Park Cemetery was founded in 1905 in Inglewood, California. A number of notable people, including entertainment and sports personalities, have been interred or entombed here.-List of notable and celebrity interments at Inglewood Park:...
, Inglewood, California
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, southwest of downtown Los Angeles. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. Its population stood at 109,673 as of the 2010 Census...
.
Personal life
Robinson married Marjorie Joseph in 1938; the marriage was annulled the same year. Their son, Ronnie SmithRonnie Robinson (roller derby)
Ronnie Smith Robinson was an American roller derby skater and coach.The son of boxer Sugar Ray Robinson, Robinson grew up distant from his father, who divorced his mother shortly after his birth. Sugar Ray counseled him against following him into the world of boxing...
, was born in 1939. Robinson met his second wife Edna Mae Holly, a noted dancer who performed at the Cotton Club and toured Europe with Duke Ellington
Duke Ellington
Edward Kennedy "Duke" Ellington was an American composer, pianist, and big band leader. Ellington wrote over 1,000 compositions...
and Cab Calloway
Cab Calloway
Cabell "Cab" Calloway III was an American jazz singer and bandleader. He was strongly associated with the Cotton Club in Harlem, New York City where he was a regular performer....
, in 1940. According to Robinson, he met her at a local pool he frequented after his boxing workouts. In an attempt to get her attention he pushed her into the pool one day, and claimed it was an accident. After this attempt was met with disdain, he appeared at the nightclub she danced at and introduced himself. Soon the couple were dating and they married in 1943. They had one son, Ray Robinson Jr. (born 1949) and divorced in 1960. She appeared on the first cover of Jet
Jet (magazine)
Jet is an American weekly marketed toward African-American readers, founded in 1951 by John H. Johnson of Johnson Publishing Company in Chicago, Illinois...
magazine in 1951. In April 1959, Robinson's eldest sister Marie died of cancer at the age of 41.
In 1965, Robinson married Millie Wiggins Bruce, who was several years his senior, and the couple settled in Los Angeles. When Robinson was sick with his various ailments, his son accused Robinson's wife of keeping him under the influence of medication to manipulate him. According to Ray Robinson Jr., when Sugar Ray's mother died, Sugar Ray could not attend his mother's funeral because Millie was drugging and controlling him. However, Robinson had been hospitalized the day before his mother's death due to agitation which caused his blood pressure to rise. Robinson Jr. and Edna Mae also claimed that they were kept away from Robinson by Millie during the last years of his life.
Boxing style
Robinson was a fluid boxer who possessed a quick jab and knockout power. He possessed tremendous versatility—according to boxing analyst Bert Sugar, "Robinson could deliver a knockout blow going backward." Robinson was efficient with both hands, and he displayed a variety of effective punches—according to a TIMETime (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
magazine article in 1951, "Robinson's repertoire, thrown with equal speed and power by either hand, includes every standard punch from a bolo to a hook—and a few he makes up on the spur of the moment." Robinson commented that once a fighter has trained to a certain level, their techniques and responses become almost reflexive. "You don't think. It's all instinct. If you stop to think, you're gone."
Legacy
Robinson has been ranked as the greatest boxer of all time by sportswriters, fellow boxers, and trainers.*Review Joe and Teddy Pick Their Top Fighters, espn.com, accessed June 4, 2007.
* Smith, Michael David. ESPN Greatest Boxers List: Sugar Ray Robinson No. 1, aolsports.com, May 13, 2007, accessed June 6, 2007.
* Wiley. pg. 226
*Anderson, Dave. Sugar Ray Robinson, Boxing's 'Best,' Is Dead, The New York Times, April 13, 1989, accessed April 10, 2008.
* Trickett, Alex, and Dirs, Ben. Who is the greatest of them all?, bbc.co.uk, June 13, 2005, accessed June 6, 2007. The phrase "pound for pound
Pound for pound
Pound for pound is a term to describe how any two things compare when bearing in mind their varying quantities; for example, a tin of tomatoes weighing 250 g and costing $2.50 is more expensive, pound for pound, than one weighing 500 g and costing $4 .It is used in combat sports such as boxing or...
", was created by sportswriters for him during his career as a way to compare boxers irrespective of weight, and Hall of Fame fighters such as Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
, Joe Louis
Joe Louis
Joseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
and Sugar Ray Leonard
Sugar Ray Leonard
Sugar Ray Leonard is an American retired professional boxer and occasional actor. He was named Ray Charles Leonard, after his mother's favorite singer, Ray Charles...
have ranked Robinson as the greatest pound for pound boxer in history. In 1997, The Ring ranked him as the best pound for pound fighter in history, and in 1999, he was named "welterweight of the century" and "middleweight of the century" by the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
. In 2007, ESPN.com featured the piece "50 Greatest Boxers of All Time", in which it named Robinson the top boxer in history. In 2003, The Ring magazine ranked him number 11 in the list of all-time greatest punchers.
Robinson was one of the first African Americans to establish himself as a star outside of sports. He was an integral part of the New York social scene in the 1940s and 1950s. His glamorous restaurant, Sugar Ray's, hosted stars such as Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
, Jackie Gleason
Jackie Gleason
Jackie Gleason was an American comedian, actor and musician. He was known for his brash visual and verbal comedy style, especially by his character Ralph Kramden on The Honeymooners, a situation-comedy television series. His most noted film roles were as Minnesota Fats in the drama film The...
, Nat "King" Cole, Joe Louis
Joe Louis
Joseph Louis Barrow , better known as Joe Louis, was the world heavyweight boxing champion from 1937 to 1949. He is considered to be one of the greatest heavyweights of all time...
, and Lena Horne
Lena Horne
Lena Mary Calhoun Horne was an American singer, actress, civil rights activist and dancer.Horne joined the chorus of the Cotton Club at the age of sixteen and became a nightclub performer before moving to Hollywood, where she had small parts in numerous movies, and more substantial parts in the...
among others. Robinson was known as a flamboyant personality outside the ring. He combined striking good looks, with charisma, and a flair for the dramatic: He drove a flamingo-pink Cadillac
Cadillac
Cadillac is an American luxury vehicle marque owned by General Motors . Cadillac vehicles are sold in over 50 countries and territories, but mostly in North America. Cadillac is currently the second oldest American automobile manufacturer behind fellow GM marque Buick and is among the oldest...
, and was an accomplished singer and dancer, who once pursued a career in the entertainment industry. According to ESPN.com's Ron Flatter: "He was the pioneer of boxing's bigger-than-life entourages, including a secretary, barber, masseur, voice coach, a coterie of trainers, beautiful women, a dwarf mascot and lifelong manager George Gainford." When Robinson first traveled to Paris, a steward referred to his companions as his "entourage". Although Robinson said he did not like the word's literal definition of "attendants", since he felt they were his friends, he liked the word itself and began to use it in regular conversation when referring to them. In 1962, when Robinson returned to Paris—where he was still a national hero—in order to persuade him to make the trip, the French promised to bring over his masseur, his hairdresser, a guy who whistled while he trained, and his trademark Cadillac. This larger than life persona made him the idol of millions of African American youths in the 1950s. Robinson inspired several other fighters who took the nickname "Sugar" in homage to him such as Sugar Ray Leonard
Sugar Ray Leonard
Sugar Ray Leonard is an American retired professional boxer and occasional actor. He was named Ray Charles Leonard, after his mother's favorite singer, Ray Charles...
, Sugar Shane Mosley
Shane Mosley
“Sugar” Shane Mosley is an American professional boxer from Pomona, California who has held world titles in three weight divisions.-Amateur career:Mosley was an amateur standout, capturing various amateur titles, including:...
, and UFC fighter "Sugar" Rashad Evans
Rashad Evans
Rashad Anton Evans is an American mixed martial artist from Niagara Falls, New York, currently signed to the Ultimate Fighting Championship where he is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Evans won the heavyweight division of The Ultimate Fighter 2. Evans lost the UFC Light Heavyweight...
.
Professional boxing record
| style="text-align:center;" colspan="8"|173 Wins (108 Knockouts), 19 Defeats (1 Knockout), 6 Draws, 2 No Contests|- style="text-align:center; background:#e3e3e3;"
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Res.
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Record
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Opponent
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Type
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Rd., Time
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Date
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Location
| style="border-style:none none solid solid; "|Notes
|- align=center
|Loss
|173-19-6
|align=left|
United States Joey ArcherJoey Archer
Joey Archer, , is a retired boxer. Archer defeated Sugar Ray Robinson in Robinson's final fight in 1965 , and fought Hall of Fame boxers such as Emile Griffith and Dick Tiger....
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|173-18-6
|align=left|
Belize Rudolph Bent|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|172-18-6
|align=left|
Canada Peter Schmidt|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|171-18-6
|align=left|
United States Harvey McCullough|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|style="background: #DDDDDD"|NC
|170-18-6
|align=left|
United States Neil Morrison|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|170-18-6
|align=left|
United States Stan Harrington|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|170-17-6
|align=left|
United States Harvey McCullough|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|169-17-6
|align=left|
United States Ferd Hernandez|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|169-16-6
|align=left|
United States Harvey McCullough|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|168-16-6
|align=left|
United States Stan Harrington|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|168-15-6
|align=left|
Mexico Memo Ayon|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|168-14-6
|align=left|
United States Rocky Randell|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|167-14-6
|align=left|
United States Earl Bastings|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|166-14-6
|align=left|
United States Jimmy Beecham|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|style="background:#abcdef;"|Draw
|165-14-6
|align=left|
Early Modern France Fabio Bettini|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|165-14-5
|align=left|
Early Modern France Jean Beltritti|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|164-14-5
|align=left|
Early Modern France Jean Baptiste Rolland|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|163-14-5
|align=left|
Early Modern France Jackie Cailleau|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|162-14-5
|align=left|
Nigeria Johnny Angel|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|161-14-5
|align=left|
Early Modern France Yoland Leveque|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|160-14-5
|align=left|
Kingdom of England Mick LeahyMick Leahy (boxer)
Mick Leahy was an Irish born professional boxer who became a British citizen in 1961. In a career which spanned from 1956 to 1965, Leahy won the British Middleweight title and fought such names as Laszlo Papp and Nino Benvenuti...
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|style="background:#abcdef;"|Draw
|160-13-5
|align=left|
United States Art Hernandez|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|160-13-4
|align=left|
United States Clarence Riley|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|159-13-4
|align=left|
United States Gaylord Barnes|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|158-13-4
|align=left|
Early Modern France Armand Vanucci|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|157-13-4
|align=left|
Early Modern France Andre Davier|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|156-13-4
|align=left|
Belgium Emiel Sarens|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|style="background:#abcdef;"|Draw
|155-13-4
|align=left|
Early Modern France Fabio Bettini|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|155-13-3
|align=left|
Early Modern France Armand Vanucci|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|154-13-3
|align=left|
United States Joey GiardelloJoey Giardello
Carmine Orlando Tilelli was an American boxer who was the middleweight champion of the world from 1963 to 1965, and was better known by his professional pseudonym of Joey Giardello.-Early life:...
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|154-12-3
|align=left|
Algeria Maurice Rolbnet|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|153-12-3
|align=left|
United States Billy Thornton|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|152-12-3
|align=left|
United States Bernie Reynolds|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|151-12-3
|align=left|
United States Ralph DupasRalph Dupas
Ralph Dupas was a boxer from New Orleans who won the world light middleweight championship.-Early boxing career:...
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|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|150-12-3
|align=left|
Early Modern France Georges Estatoff|
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|149-12-3
|align=left|
Spain Diego Infantes|
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|148-12-3
|align=left|
Kingdom of England Terry DownesTerry Downes
Terry Downes is a retired British middleweight boxer. He was nicknamed the "Paddington Express" for his aggressive fighting style. As of 2008, Downes was Britain’s oldest surviving former world champion...
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|148-11-3
|align=left|
United States Phil Moyer|
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|148-10-3
|align=left|
United States Bobby Lee|
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|147-10-3
|align=left|
United States Denny MoyerDenny Moyer
Denny Moyer was an American boxer who held the world light middleweight title between 1962 and 1963. He finished his career with a 97–38–4 record.-Early life:...
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|147-9-3
|align=left|
Canada Wilf Greaves|
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|146-9-3
|align=left|
United States Al Hauser|
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|145-9-3
|align=left|
United States Denny MoyerDenny Moyer
Denny Moyer was an American boxer who held the world light middleweight title between 1962 and 1963. He finished his career with a 97–38–4 record.-Early life:...
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|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|144-9-3
|align=left|
Canada Wilf Greaves|
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|143-9-3
|align=left|
United States Gene FullmerGene Fullmer
Gene Fullmer is a former American middleweight boxer and world champion.-Professional career:Fullmer began his professional career in 1951 and won his first 29 fights, 19 by knockout...
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|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|style="background:#abcdef;"|Draw
|143-8-3
|align=left|
United States Gene FullmerGene Fullmer
Gene Fullmer is a former American middleweight boxer and world champion.-Professional career:Fullmer began his professional career in 1951 and won his first 29 fights, 19 by knockout...
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|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|143-8-2
|align=left|
United States Paul PenderPaul Pender
Paul Pender was an American middleweight boxer.-Early life:He was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, the son of William and Anna Pender...
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|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|143-7-2
|align=left|
United States Tony Baldoni|
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|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|142-7-2
|align=left|
United States Paul PenderPaul Pender
Paul Pender was an American middleweight boxer.-Early life:He was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, the son of William and Anna Pender...
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|142-6-2
|align=left|
United States Bob YoungBob Young (boxer)
Bob Young is a retired American boxer. Born in Providence, Rhode Island, Young fought Sugar Ray Robinson in 1959, losing via second round knockout.-References:...
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|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|141-6-2
|align=left|
United States Carmen BasilioCarmen Basilio
Carmine Basilio better known in the boxing world as Carmen Basilio, is an American former professional boxer who was a two weight world boxing champion...
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|140-6-2
|align=left|
United States Carmen BasilioCarmen Basilio
Carmine Basilio better known in the boxing world as Carmen Basilio, is an American former professional boxer who was a two weight world boxing champion...
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|140-5-2
|align=left|
United States Gene FullmerGene Fullmer
Gene Fullmer is a former American middleweight boxer and world champion.-Professional career:Fullmer began his professional career in 1951 and won his first 29 fights, 19 by knockout...
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|139-5-2
|align=left|
United States Gene FullmerGene Fullmer
Gene Fullmer is a former American middleweight boxer and world champion.-Professional career:Fullmer began his professional career in 1951 and won his first 29 fights, 19 by knockout...
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|139-4-2
|align=left|
United States Bob Provizzi|
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|138-4-2
|align=left|
United States Bobo OlsonBobo Olson
Carl Olson was an American boxer. He was the world middleweight champion between October 1953 and December 1955, the longest reign of any champion in that division during the 1950s, although he is probably best remembered for his three knockout losses against Sugar Ray Robinson.His nickname, Bobo,...
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|137-4-2
|align=left|
United States Bobo OlsonBobo Olson
Carl Olson was an American boxer. He was the world middleweight champion between October 1953 and December 1955, the longest reign of any champion in that division during the 1950s, although he is probably best remembered for his three knockout losses against Sugar Ray Robinson.His nickname, Bobo,...
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|136-4-2
|align=left|
United States Rocky CastellaniRocky Castellani
Attilio N. "Rocky" Castellani was an American boxer. He was born in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, to Attilio Castellani and Rose Isopi Castellani , who later moved to Margate City, formerly South Atlantic City, in Atlantic County in eastern New Jersey...
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|135-4-2
|align=left|
United States Garth Panter|
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|134-4-2
|align=left|
United States Ted Olla|
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|133-4-2
|align=left|
United States Johnny Lombardo|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|132-4-2
|align=left|
United States Ralph Jones|
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|132-3-2
|align=left|
United States Joe RindoneJoe Rindone
Joe Rindone was an American boxer in the 1940s and '50s.Born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, to Italian immigrants, Joe spent the majority of his career competing in the middleweight division in the Boston area, often at the Boston Garden, under the aliases "Dynamite Joe" and "Sweet Joe." Rindone won...
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|131-3-2
|align=left|
United States Joey MaximJoey Maxim
Giuseppe Antonio Berardinelli was an American boxer. He was a light heavyweight champion of the world. He took the ring-name Joey Maxim from the Maxim gun, the world's first self-acting machine gun, based on his ability to rapidly throw a large number of left jabs.-Early career:Maxim was born in...
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|131-2-2
|align=left|
United States Rocky GrazianoRocky Graziano
Rocky Graziano, born Thomas Rocco Barbella in New York City , was an Italian American boxer. Graziano was considered one of the greatest knockout artists in boxing history, often displaying the capacity to take his opponent out with a single punch...
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|130-2-2
|align=left|
United States Bobo OlsonBobo Olson
Carl Olson was an American boxer. He was the world middleweight champion between October 1953 and December 1955, the longest reign of any champion in that division during the 1950s, although he is probably best remembered for his three knockout losses against Sugar Ray Robinson.His nickname, Bobo,...
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|129-2-2
|align=left|
Kingdom of England Randy TurpinRandy Turpin
Randolph Adolphus Turpin known as the Leamington Larruper, was an English boxer who was considered by some to be Europe's best middleweight boxer of the 1940s and 1950s.-Biography:...
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|128-2-2
|align=left|
Kingdom of England Randy TurpinRandy Turpin
Randolph Adolphus Turpin known as the Leamington Larruper, was an English boxer who was considered by some to be Europe's best middleweight boxer of the 1940s and 1950s.-Biography:...
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|128-1-2
|align=left|
Belgium Cyrille Delannoit|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|style="background: #DDDDDD"|NC
|127-1-2
|align=left|
Germany Gerhard HechtGerhard Hecht
Gerhard Hecht was a boxer. Hecht fought for the middleweight championship against Sugar Ray Robinson in 1951. The fight ended when Robinson hit Hecht in the kidney, and Hecht could not continue. The fight was originally ruled a disqualification victory for Hecht but later changed to a...
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|127-1-2
|align=left|
Early Modern France Jean Walzack|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|126-1-2
|align=left|
Netherlands Jan de Bruin|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|125-1-2
|align=left|
Early Modern France Jean Wanes|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|124-1-2
|align=left|
Algeria Kid Marcel|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|123-1-2
|align=left|
United States Don Ellis|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|122-1-2
|align=left|
United States Holly Mims|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|121-1-2
|align=left|
United States Jake LaMottaJake LaMotta
Giacobbe LaMotta , better known as Jake LaMotta, nicknamed "The Bronx Bull" and "The Raging Bull", is a former American world middleweight champion boxer...
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|120-1-2
|align=left|
Germany Hans Stretz|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|119-1-2
|align=left|
Early Modern France Robert VillemainRobert Villemain
Robert Villemain was a French boxer. Villemain defeated Hall of Famers Kid Gavilan and Jake LaMotta during his career, and lost his Pennsylvania middleweight title to Sugar Ray Robinson in 1950....
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|118-1-2
|align=left|
Early Modern France Jean Walzack|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|117-1-2
|align=left|
Netherlands Luc van Dam|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|116-1-2
|align=left|
Early Modern France Jean Stock|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|115-1-2
|align=left|
United States Bobby Dykes|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|114-1-2
|align=left|
United States Bobo OlsonBobo Olson
Carl Olson was an American boxer. He was the world middleweight champion between October 1953 and December 1955, the longest reign of any champion in that division during the 1950s, although he is probably best remembered for his three knockout losses against Sugar Ray Robinson.His nickname, Bobo,...
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|113-1-2
|align=left|
United States Joe RindoneJoe Rindone
Joe Rindone was an American boxer in the 1940s and '50s.Born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, to Italian immigrants, Joe spent the majority of his career competing in the middleweight division in the Boston area, often at the Boston Garden, under the aliases "Dynamite Joe" and "Sweet Joe." Rindone won...
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|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|112-1-2
|align=left|
United States Billy Brown|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|111-1-2
|align=left|
Puerto Rico José BasoraJosé Basora
José Basora, born February 8, 1918, in Lajas, Puerto Rico, was a professional boxer. He was married to Emilia Rivera de Jesus for 44 years and had two children and lived in New York City-the Bronx. Basora's wife died in 1988. José Basora died on January 4, 1993.José Basora fought professionally...
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|110-1-2
|align=left|
United States Charley FusariCharley Fusari
Charley Fusari was an American boxer born in Italy. Charley was undefeated in his first 45 fights. In his 45th fight, he beat the great Tippy Larkin.Fusari had two world title shots during his career...
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|109-1-2
|align=left|
Early Modern France Robert VillemainRobert Villemain
Robert Villemain was a French boxer. Villemain defeated Hall of Famers Kid Gavilan and Jake LaMotta during his career, and lost his Pennsylvania middleweight title to Sugar Ray Robinson in 1950....
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|108-1-2
|align=left|
United States Ray Barnes|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|107-1-2
|align=left|
Canada Cliff Beckett|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|106-1-2
|align=left|
United States George CostnerGeorge Costner
George "Sugar" Costner was a professional boxer. Costner was a major welterweight contender from 1944 to 1950....
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|105-1-2
|align=left|
Early Modern France Jean Walzack|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|104-1-2
|align=left|
United States Aaron WadeAaron Wade
Aaron Wade was an American Middleweight boxer who fought from 1935-1950.-External links:*...
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|103-1-2
|align=left|
United States Al Mobley|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|102-1-2
|align=left|
United States George LaRover|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|101-1-2
|align=left|
United States Vern Lester|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|100-1-2
|align=left|
United States Don Lee|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|99-1-2
|align=left|
United States Charley Dodson|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|98-1-2
|align=left|
United States Benny Evans|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|97-1-2
|align=left|
United States Steve BelloiseSteve Belloise
Steve "Gink" Belloise was an American boxer.Belloise was a talented fighter who lost only 13 of 111 bouts and scored 59 knockouts during his career; He was a top contender for the Middleweight Championship during the early 1940s and a brother of Mike and Sal, boxersSteve defeated such men as Anton...
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|96-1-2
|align=left|
Cuba Kid GavilanKid Gavilan
Gerardo González , better known in the boxing world as Kid Gavilan, was a former world welterweight champion from Cuba...
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|95-1-2
|align=left|
United States Cecil Hudson|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|94-1-2
|align=left|
United States Freddie Flores|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|93-1-2
|align=left|
United States Earl Turner|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|92-1-2
|align=left|
United States Don Lee|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|91-1-2
|align=left|
United States Bobby Lee|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|style="background:#abcdef;"|Draw
|90-1-2
|align=left|
United States Henry BrimmHenry Brimm
Henry Brimm was an American boxer. A native of Buffalo, New York, Brimm finished his career with a 26–17–4 record. The highlight of Brimm's career occurred in 1949 when he managed a draw against Hall of Famer Sugar Ray Robinson—Robinson started his career 128–1–2, and was 85–1–1 when he fought...
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|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|90-1-1
|align=left|
United States Young Gene Buffalo|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|89-1-1
|align=left|
United States Bobby Lee|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|88-1-1
|align=left|
Cuba Kid GavilanKid Gavilan
Gerardo González , better known in the boxing world as Kid Gavilan, was a former world welterweight champion from Cuba...
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|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|87-1-1
|align=left|
United States Bernard Docusen|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|86-1-1
|align=left|
United States Henry BrimmHenry Brimm
Henry Brimm was an American boxer. A native of Buffalo, New York, Brimm finished his career with a 26–17–4 record. The highlight of Brimm's career occurred in 1949 when he managed a draw against Hall of Famer Sugar Ray Robinson—Robinson started his career 128–1–2, and was 85–1–1 when he fought...
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|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|85-1-1
|align=left|
United States Ossie Harris|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|84-1-1
|align=left|
United States Chuck Taylor|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|83-1-1
|align=left|
United States Billy Nixon|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|82-1-1
|align=left|
United States California Jackie Wilson|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|81-1-1
|align=left|
Philippines Flashy Sebastian|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|80-1-1
|align=left|
United States Sammy Secreet|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|79-1-1
|align=left|
United States Jimmy DoyleJimmy Doyle (boxer)
Jimmy Doyle was an American welterweight boxer.-Pro career:Doyle made his debut as a professional boxer in 1941 and in 1946 lost to Artie Levine by 9th round TKO. After the bout, Doyle went to the hospital, suffering from a severe head injury...
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|78-1-1
|align=left|
United States Georgie AbramsGeorgie Abrams
Georgie Abrams was an American boxer who once fought for the middleweight championship.Turning professional in 1937, Abrams won his first 17 fights as a professional. He earned a shot at middleweight champion Tony Zale by defeating such contenders as Billy Soose, Teddy Yarosz, and Lou Brouillard....
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|77-1-1
|align=left|
United States Eddie Finazzo|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|76-1-1
|align=left|
United States Freddie Wilson|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|75-1-1
|align=left|
United States Bernie Miller|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|74-1-1
|align=left|
United States Tommy BellTommy Bell (boxer)
Tommy Bell was an African-American boxer. As a professional, he faced legendary fighters such as Jake LaMotta, Fritzie Zivic, and Kid Gavilán. Bell fought for the welterweight title against Sugar Ray Robinson in 1946....
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|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|73-1-1
|align=left|
United States Artie LevineArtie Levine
Artie Levine is a former American boxer in the middleweight and light heavyweight divisions in the 1940s.-Overview:Levine, who was Jewish and from Brooklyn, was a legitimate contender who flattened 36 opponents with a devastating left hook.Levine, who stood at 5' 8", was a right handed slugger,...
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|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|72-1-1
|align=left|
United States Cecil Hudson|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|71-1-1
|align=left|
United States Ossie Harris|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|70-1-1
|align=left|
United States Sidney Miller|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|69-1-1
|align=left|
United States Vinnie Vines|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|68-1-1
|align=left|
United States Joe Curcio|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|67-1-1
|align=left|
United States Norman Rubio|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|66-1-1
|align=left|
United States Freddie Wilson|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|65-1-1
|align=left|
United States Freddie Flores|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|64-1-1
|align=left|
United States Izzy JannazzoIzzy Jannazzo
Anthony "Izzy" Jannazzo was an American professional boxer who fought in the Welterweight Division...
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|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|63-1-1
|align=left|
United States Sammy AngottSammy Angott
Sammy Angott was born Samuel Engotti in Pennsylvania. He was known as a clever boxer who liked to follow up a clean punch by grabbing his opponent, causing him to be known as "The Clutch."...
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|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|62-1-1
|align=left|
Canada Cliff Beckett|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|61-1-1
|align=left|
United States O'Neill Bell|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|60-1-1
|align=left|
United States Tony Riccio|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|59-1-1
|align=left|
United States Dave Clark|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|58-1-1
|align=left|
United States Vic Dellicurti|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|57-1-1
|align=left|
United States Jake LaMottaJake LaMotta
Giacobbe LaMotta , better known as Jake LaMotta, nicknamed "The Bronx Bull" and "The Raging Bull", is a former American world middleweight champion boxer...
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|56-1-1
|align=left|
United States Jimmy Mandell|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|55-1-1
|align=left|
United States Jimmy McDaniels|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|style="background:#abcdef;"|Draw
|54-1-1
|align=left|
Puerto Rico José BasoraJosé Basora
José Basora, born February 8, 1918, in Lajas, Puerto Rico, was a professional boxer. He was married to Emilia Rivera de Jesus for 44 years and had two children and lived in New York City-the Bronx. Basora's wife died in 1988. José Basora died on January 4, 1993.José Basora fought professionally...
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|54-1
|align=left|
United States Jake LaMottaJake LaMotta
Giacobbe LaMotta , better known as Jake LaMotta, nicknamed "The Bronx Bull" and "The Raging Bull", is a former American world middleweight champion boxer...
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|53-1
|align=left|
United States George CostnerGeorge Costner
George "Sugar" Costner was a professional boxer. Costner was a major welterweight contender from 1944 to 1950....
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|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|52-1
|align=left|
United States Tommy BellTommy Bell (boxer)
Tommy Bell was an African-American boxer. As a professional, he faced legendary fighters such as Jake LaMotta, Fritzie Zivic, and Kid Gavilán. Bell fought for the welterweight title against Sugar Ray Robinson in 1946....
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|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|51-1
|align=left|
United States Billy Furrone|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|50-1
|align=left|
United States George Martin|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|49-1
|align=left|
United States Sheik Rangel|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|48-1
|align=left|
United States Vic Dellicurti|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|47-1
|align=left|
United States Lou Woods|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|46-1
|align=left|
United States Izzy JannazzoIzzy Jannazzo
Anthony "Izzy" Jannazzo was an American professional boxer who fought in the Welterweight Division...
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|45-1
|align=left|
United States Henry ArmstrongHenry Armstrong
Henry Jackson Jr. was a world boxing champion who fought under the name Henry Armstrong. He is universally regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time by many boxing critics and fellow professionals.Henry Jr...
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|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|44-1
|align=left|
United States Ralph Zannelli|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|43-1
|align=left|
United States Freddie Cabral|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|42-1
|align=left|
United States Jake LaMottaJake LaMotta
Giacobbe LaMotta , better known as Jake LaMotta, nicknamed "The Bronx Bull" and "The Raging Bull", is a former American world middleweight champion boxer...
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|41-1
|align=left|
United States California Jackie Wilson |
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Loss
|40-1
|align=left|
United States Jake LaMottaJake LaMotta
Giacobbe LaMotta , better known as Jake LaMotta, nicknamed "The Bronx Bull" and "The Raging Bull", is a former American world middleweight champion boxer...
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|40-0
|align=left|
United States Al Nettlow|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|39-0
|align=left|
United States Izzy JannazzoIzzy Jannazzo
Anthony "Izzy" Jannazzo was an American professional boxer who fought in the Welterweight Division...
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|38-0
|align=left|
United States Vic Dellicurti|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|37-0
|align=left|
United States Izzy JannazzoIzzy Jannazzo
Anthony "Izzy" Jannazzo was an American professional boxer who fought in the Welterweight Division...
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|36-0
|align=left|
United States Jake LaMottaJake LaMotta
Giacobbe LaMotta , better known as Jake LaMotta, nicknamed "The Bronx Bull" and "The Raging Bull", is a former American world middleweight champion boxer...
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|35-0
|align=left|
United States Tony Motisi|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|34-0
|align=left|
United States Reuben Shank|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|33-0
|align=left|
United States Sammy AngottSammy Angott
Sammy Angott was born Samuel Engotti in Pennsylvania. He was known as a clever boxer who liked to follow up a clean punch by grabbing his opponent, causing him to be known as "The Clutch."...
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|32-0
|align=left|
United States Marty ServoMarty Servo
Mario Severino, "Marty Servo" was the former world welterweight boxing champion. Servo began boxing in the mid-1930s. He became a professional boxer in 1938 and was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1989.-Amateur career:Servo had an impressive amateur career...
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|31-0
|align=left|
United States Dick Banner|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|30-0
|align=left|
Canada Harvey Dubs|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|29-0
|align=left|
United States Norman Rubio|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|28-0
|align=left|
Canada Maxie BergerMaxie Berger
Maxie Berger was a Canadian boxer. He was born in Montreal, Canada.He fought as a flyweight, junior welterweight, and welterweight from 1935–46, and in 134 fights had a record of: Won 99 , Lost 24, Drawn 9.Berger was selected for the 1934 British Empire Games...
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|27-0
|align=left|
United States Fritzie ZivicFritzie Zivic
Fritzie Zivic , born as Ferdinand Henry John Zivcich , was an American boxer.-Biography:...
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|26-0
|align=left|
United States Fritzie ZivicFritzie Zivic
Fritzie Zivic , born as Ferdinand Henry John Zivcich , was an American boxer.-Biography:...
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|25-0
|align=left|
United States Marty ServoMarty Servo
Mario Severino, "Marty Servo" was the former world welterweight boxing champion. Servo began boxing in the mid-1930s. He became a professional boxer in 1938 and was inducted into the World Boxing Hall of Fame in 1989.-Amateur career:Servo had an impressive amateur career...
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|24-0
|align=left|
United States Maxie ShapiroMaxie Shapiro
Maxie Shapiro is an American boxer from New York, New York. Shapiro was undefeated in his first 37 fights, with a record of 36-0-1.Maxie fought Leo Rodak two times. The first fight Maxie lost in Brooklyn, New York, by decision...
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|23-0
|align=left|
Early Modern France Maurice Arnault|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|22-0
|align=left|
United States Carl Guggino|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|21-0
|align=left|
United States Sammy AngottSammy Angott
Sammy Angott was born Samuel Engotti in Pennsylvania. He was known as a clever boxer who liked to follow up a clean punch by grabbing his opponent, causing him to be known as "The Clutch."...
|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|20-0
|align=left|
United States Pete Lello|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|19-0
|align=left|
United States Mike Evans|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|18-0
|align=left|
United States Nick Castiglione|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|17-0
|align=left|
United States Victor Troise|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|16-0
|align=left|
United States Joe Ghnouly|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|15-0
|align=left|
United States Charley Burns|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|14-0
|align=left|
United States Jimmy Tygh|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|13-0
|align=left|
United States Jimmy Tygh|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|12-0
|align=left|
United States Gene Spencer|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|11-0
|align=left|
United States Bobby McIntire|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|10-0
|align=left|
United States Benny Cartagena|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|9-0
|align=left|
United States George Zengaras|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|8-0
|align=left|
United States Frankie Wallace|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|7-0
|align=left|
United States Harry LaBarba|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|6-0
|align=left|
United States Oliver White|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|5-0
|align=left|
United States Norment Quarles|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|4-0
|align=left|
United States Bobby Woods|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|3-0
|align=left|
Greece Mitsos Grispos|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|2-0
|align=left|
United States Silent Stafford|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
|- align=center
|Win
|1-0
|align=left|
Puerto Rico Joe Echevarria|
|
|
|align=left|
|align=left|
Sources
- Boyd, Herb, and Robinson, Ray II. Pound for Pound: A Biography of Sugar Ray Robinson, New York: HarperCollinsHarperCollinsHarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company, itself the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company. The worldwide...
, 2005 ISBN 0060188766 - Chenault, Julie. Edna Mae Robinson Still Looking Good in Her Mink. Jet, Johnson Publishing Company Nov 5, 1981 issue ISSN 0021-5996 (available online)
- Donelson, Thomas, and Lotierzo, Frank. Viewing Boxing from Ringside, Lincoln: iUniverse, 2002 ISBN 0595237487
- Fitzgerald, Mike H., and Hudson, Dabid L. Boxing's Most Wanted: The Top Ten Book of Champs, Chumps and Punch-drunk Palookas, Virginia: Brassey's, 2004 ISBN 1574887149
- Hauser, Thomas. The Black Lights: Inside the World of Professional Boxing, Fayetteville: University of Arkansas Press, 2000 ISBN 1557285977
- Robinson, Sugar Ray, and Anderson, DaveDave Anderson (sportswriter)Dave Anderson is an American sportswriter based in New York City. After graduating in 1947 from Xavier High School - an elite Jesuit preparatory school in New York City - Anderson attended the College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, graduating in 1951.Anderson has written for a number of New...
. Sugar Ray, London: Da Capo Press, 1994 ISBN 030680574X - Sammons, Jeffrey Thomas. Beyond the Ring: The Role of Boxing in American Society, Urbana: University of Illinois PressUniversity of Illinois PressThe University of Illinois Press , is a major American university press and part of the University of Illinois system. Founded in 1918, the press publishes some 120 new books each year, plus 33 scholarly journals, and several electronic projects...
, 1998 ISBN 0252061454 - Wiley, Ralph. Serenity: A Boxing Memoir, Lincoln: University of Nebraska PressUniversity of Nebraska PressThe University of Nebraska Press, founded in 1941, is a publisher of scholarly and popular-press books. It is the second-largest state university press in the United States and, including private institutions, ranks among the 10 largest university presses in the United States...
, 2000 ISBN 0803298161