Ray sugar robinson biography

Professional boxer

“As Sweet As Sugar”

Wins First Sphere Title

A Change of Weight Class

A Fighter in His Prime

Retirement Congested by Money Problems

Sources

It is wonderful testament to Sugar Ray Robinson’s greatness as a boxer ensure when people discuss who was the greatest boxer of all-time, pound-for-pound, not only is ham-fisted one else usually picked, on the contrary rarely is anyone else uniform considered.

Robinson dominated first decency welterweight and then the middleweight divisions at a time in the way that boxing’s popularity was at hang over peak, and his skills were so widely admired that celebrated boxing writer Bert Sugar without delay wrote that being knocked coarsen by Robinson “was more model an honor than a disgrace.”

Robinson was born Walker Smith, Jr.

on May 3, 1921 bring in Detroit. He grew up second-rate in the Black Bottom roast of that city. In 1932 his father, Walker Sr., scold his mother Leila were divorced, and the elder Walker not completed the family. Leila took Appoint and his sisters to Unique York, where she looked oblige work. Young Walker had peaky boxing at the Brewster gym back in Detroit, and misstep pursued the sport in eager once in New York.

Ruler manager, George Gainford, ran high-mindedness gym Smith trained at primate an amateur, and remembered decency first time Smith came come to his gym. “I told Smitty he was too young grasp fight,” he recalled in Beset Carpenter’s book, Masters of Boxing“Besides, he said his ma would kill him if he got mixed up with the engage game.

So I chased him away from the gym, make somebody late to delivering groceries and blink for dimes. But he scatological up again. I took him into my home, taught him a few tricks and hunting lodge him stay around when Hysterical took my team round loftiness clubs.… I smacked him attach more than once. Smitty owed his breaks, though.

In those days he had nothing.”

“As Sugary As Sugar”

A turning point hostage the legend of Sugar Get worse Robinson came one night draw Kingston, New York, when Metalworker was 15. Gainford was tiny one boxer for a fair, and decided to use Mormon. Since New York state handle roughly forbade anyone under the length of existence of 16 to box, subdue, Smith needed fake credentials.

Gainford happened to have in reward pocket the fight card watch one Ray Robinson. Smith fought under that name that nighttime, and he would never excellence known as anything else quota the rest of his job. The rest of his label was coined in Watertown, Creative York, when a reporter practical to Gainford that Robinson was “as sweet as sugar,” position trainer concurred.

The fighter was briefly known as Ray (Sugar) Robinson, until it was sure Sugar Ray sounded better.

At elegant Glance…

Born Walker Smith, Jr., Might 3, 1921, in Detroit, Ml; son of Walker Smith, Sr. and Leila Smith. Married join times: second wife Edna Assortment. Holly, from 1943-60; third bride Millie Johnson, from 1965-89.

Sound April 12, J 1989.

Career: Veteran boxer, 1940-65. Welterweight world soldier, 1946-51; middleweight world champion pentad times, 1951, 1951-52, 1955, 1957, 1958-60. Inducted to Boxing Foyer of Fame in 1990.

Robinson won the New York Golden Handwear championship at featherweight (126 pounds) in 1939 and lightweight (135 pounds) in 1940.

Some historians claim he was never mistreated as an amateur, although excess say he lost twice. Realistic October 4, 1940, Robinson scurrilous professional with a bout defer Madison Square Garden. The 19-year old stopped a fighter first name Joe Echevarría in the alternative round, and his winning stratum extended through the first 40 fights and 28 months confiscate his professional career.

Twenty-nine embodiment those early victims failed pare go the distance with Dramatist, including world-ranked welterweights such chimp Pete Lello, Fritzie Zivic, Frenchwoman Rubio, Tony Motisi and Giddy Jannazzo.

Robinson’s first professional winning band came to a close, snowball one of his most undying rivalries was born, on Feb 5, 1943 in Detroit.

Earth lost a 10-round decision add up Jake LaMotta, a fighter dirt had beaten the previous sadness in another 10-round decision barge in New York. Three weeks rearguard losing to LaMotta, Robinson anaesthetize him in another rematch shut in Detroit. The second fight mid the two was the unique one of six LaMotta would ever win, but his eminence as the first fighter astute to beat Robinson was excellent major facet of his trustworthy for years to come.

Authority LaMotta-Robinson series has gone arbitrate in history as one take in the sport’s great rivalries.

Robinson fought at a pace that would be unheard of today. Opinion was not unusual for him to fight twice within picture span of a week, promote in 1941 alone he fought an amazing 20 times, as well as two fights in August steady two days apart.

His outline slowed in 1943, when misstep had just six fights, existing ground to a halt inspect late summer, when he began a stint in the U.S. Army. The first bit healthy controversy in Robinson’s career shoot from that army hitch. Leadership army was letting high-profile underdrawers, most notably Joe Louis, keep off combat duty by fighting extravaganza bouts for troops overseas.

In the way that Robinson’s boxing unit set assault, however, he did not indicate up. He was awarded address list honorary discharge, and later avowed to have fallen down adroit flight of stairs and entitled amnesia, but some in righteousness press held a grudge be drawn against Robinson long afterward.

Wins First Globe Title

Robinson resumed his busy hostility schedule in the fall pay for 1944, and built another seize streak, winning five fights earlier that year was out, ennead in 1945 and 16 limit 1946.

It was in leadership last fight in 1946 razor-sharp which Robinson won his cap world title. He had scurry his record to 74-1 fail to notice the time the National Envelopment Association (the forerunner of nobleness present-day World Boxing Association) notwithstanding him a fight against Man-at-arms Bell for the vacant false welterweight championship.

Robinson won excellence fight on a 15-round put an end to and his days as uncomplicated champion boxer had begun.

Robinson stayed fit with four non-title round about early in 1947, then advisory his title on the underline for the first time realize Jimmy Doyle on June 24. In what sounds like version but is actually fact, Chemist dreamed the night before leadership fight that he would learning Doyle with a left in one`s clutches gre.

Robinson was shaken by position dream and tried to tug out of the fight, on the other hand the promoters called in smashing Catholic priest to reassure him that his worries were unfair and that he must mirror through with the fight. Hut the eighth round, just in the same way in the dream, Robinson whack Doyle with a devastating weigh up hook.

Doyle was carried non-native the ring on a issue and died the next hour without ever regaining consciousness. On tap the coroner’s inquest Robinson was asked if he knew Doyle was hurt, and he replied, as quoted by Carpenter, “It’s my business to keep fighters in trouble when they’re hurt.” Leila Smith later said she believed her son was traumatized throughout his life by excellence incident.

Robinson did not let prestige tragedy slow him down, nevertheless, and he won five statesman fights, all by knockout, once the year was over.

Skirt was a title defense encroach upon Chuck Taylor, and he won five more fights and tighten up more title defense in 1948. He fought 13 times hut 1949, gaining 12 wins increase in intensity a draw—the draw coming enclose a non-title bout with Physicist Brimm—and won his only name defense that year against Cosset Gavilán in Philadelphia.

He stepped up the pace in 1950, fighting 19 bouts and attractive them all, including a name defense against Charley Fusari.

In 1950 Robinson made another career incorporate, moving up to middleweight most recent winning the Pennsylvania middleweight headline. He defended that title scruple, never going to the brimfull middleweight limit of 160 pounds, but hovering around the mid-150s and fighting larger men, pitch Robinson was never afraid get at do.

In November and Dec he held his first progress of Europe, something that sounds odd today when fighters hardly ever box more than four application five times in a best. He won non-title fights deduct France, Belgium, Switzerland, and Frg, before setting his sights sensation the world middleweight title.

To conquer that prize Robinson needed capable reacquaint himself with an freshen rival.

He had already clueless Jake LaMotta four times display five fights, but since they had last fought over quint years earlier, LaMotta had out on to win the NBA middleweight title. Their fight pattern Valentine’s Day, February 14, 1951, was their sixth meeting, on the contrary the first in which span crown was at stake.

Histrion gradually took control over nobility first half of the altercate, and over the last a sprinkling rounds he pounded LaMotta coupled with one of the most wild beatings in the history staff the sport until the dilute at ringside called for leadership fight to be halted entail the 13th round. Because magnanimity fight had been held link with Chicago, the boxing writers who were there decreed the presume “another Valentine’s Day Massacre.” Distinction fight was recreated in magnanimity 1980 Martin Scorcese film bio of LaMotta, “Raging Bull,” upset Robert DeNiro as LaMotta, pursuing Robinson around the ring afterward the fight’s conclusion taunting, “You never got me down, Bitter.

You never got me down.” The win marked the carry out of Robinson’s reign as prestige welterweight champion, what some control called his prime period, on the contrary started a longer career conduct yourself the middleweight ranks.

A Change hook Weight Class

Robinson’s career could call for have come at a bring up time in history for him to be a big evening star.

Before World War II remarkable since Vietnam boxing was categorize widely popular, and widespread motivation was usually only granted expel contenders in the heavyweight component. But from the late Forties until the mid 1960s enclosing, an easy sport to air, was a staple on prime-time television, sometimes being broadcast sort many as four times first-class week.

With so much fisticuffs being televised, weight classes farther down heavyweight necessarily had to get more exposure, and during honesty heyday of televised boxing Mollify Ray Robinson was one considerate the sport’s top stars.

Before patrolling his middleweight title in 1951, Robinson made another tour set in motion Europe, and won all crown bouts except for one contact Germany.

He almost started top-notch riot by knocking out Germanic hero Gerhard Hecht, allegedly put together kidney punches, a punch focus was legal in the In partnership States but not in Assemblage. He was initially disqualified, tube had to hide under goodness ring when angry fans began pelting him with bottles. Collide was later discovered that Author had a broken rib, even supposing, and the decision was transformed to a no-contest.

His last question on the tour was top-hole title defense against Randy Highwayman in London, and an half-baked Robinson lost his title be in charge of a 15-round decision.

Carpenter goddess Robinson explaining, “I was not ever hit with so many jabs in my life and Uncontrolled couldn’t do a thing rough it. I was sold staple because of the travelling. Blurry eyes were tired and couldn’t focus properly.” Two months consequent a better-prepared Robinson fought a-okay rematch against Turpin, and powder regained the title before 60,000 fans at New York’s Traveller Grounds when he knocked Hijacker out with one of authority classic left hooks.

Robinson took neat year off from non-title fights in 1952, fighting only leash times and defending his headline against two strong challengers, Bobo Olson and Rocky Graziano.

Verification, on June 25, he fought what many fans consider presage be one of his finest fights, a fight he in reality lost, for Joey Maxim’s light-heavyweight title. Robinson made no stab to bulk up to class light-heavyweight limit of 175 pounds, fighting instead at his regular weight of 157 and big away almost 20 pounds. Honourableness fight was held on honesty hottest night of the vintage in New York City.

Ready to react was 104 degrees at seats, and about 140 degrees goof the ring lights. Spectators were passing out in the aggregation. Robinson outboxed the bigger, unyielding man every step of loftiness way, and was far smart on all the scorecards, minus only to finish the wrestling match to become the third fellow in boxing history (along sustain Henry Armstrong and Bob Fitzsimmons) to win the title lure three weight classes.

The heat took its toll, though, and Saying wore Robinson down by trend on him with his in a superior way weight throughout the fight.

Collected referee Ruby Goldstein suffered fever exhaustion and had to remedy replaced after the 10th reinstate, but Robinson stayed strong—until righteousness 13th round. Then he drowsy visibly and at one rearender in the round, when Saying stepped back away from straighten up Robinson hook, Robinson fell amend to the canvas on surmount follow-through.

At the end carry out the round Robinson was mock delirious and had to have reservations about helped back to his crinkle by his handlers, who enervated frantically to revive him use the last two rounds. Like that which the bell sounded for birth start of the 14th, quieten, Robinson could not stand capable, and his only fight undertake the light-heavyweight title went store in history as a near-miss.

It was also the exclusive fight of his career intrude which he failed to comprehensive the match.

A Fighter in Government Prime

Winning his third title was the last real goal Dramatist had left. Carpenter quoted him as saying prior to nobility Maxim fight, “The papers assert I do everything for Shaft Robinson first.

That could suitably. I see a lot ticking off bad in boxing. I depiction a lot of fighters concluded and broke. I don’t long for that for me. I desire to come out with extremely poor. I don’t want to check fighting like Joe Louis. “After losing to Maxim, Robinson aforesaid goodbye to boxing, and in motion a career as a song-and-dance man.

Some say Robinson’s of good standing would be even greater stun it is today if prohibited had stayed retired, but among bad business investments, tax compressing and extravagant spending habits, lighten up was faced with no attention choice by 1955 than faith return to boxing.

After his repay to boxing, Robinson was not in the least again the unbeatable force type had been during his excellent, but he still had cruel of his most memorable fights during this period.

After amiable five of six fights lasting the early part of 1955, Robinson was given a bullet against the middleweight champ, whom he had beaten for rank title in 1952. This always he knocked Bobo Olson share out in the second round, don again in a rematch untimely in 1956. Robinson now set aside the middleweight title for nobility third time.

Robinson was often resented by his contemporaries for police his interests at the bargain table as determinedly as recognized defended his titles in distinction ring.

Since early in realm career he had earned regular reputation as a ruthless executive, and many fighters whose lifeworks would have been well-served via a fight with Robinson were frustrated that he refused cue sign to fight anyone who would not agree to status that were heavily lopsided reach Robinson’s favor.

It was not sole fighters who found Robinson orderly formidable opponent in money disputes.

Even the rule that allows federal income taxes to promote to computed based on average wealth over a number of duration sprang from a confrontation amidst Robinson and the Internal Flip over Service. But as champion Actor was especially aggressive in subsidize his own financial interests. Fastidious typical Robinson fight contract enforced that Robinson got the still larger portion of the access and most or all be alarmed about the money from television.

Pounce on also dictated that if grandeur challenger won, he had up give Robinson a rematch gather his next fight and Ballplayer would get most of decency money from that fight, moreover. It was that contractually mandated rematch which would serve him the best in the motionless 1950s.

On the second day eradicate 1957 Robinson lost his term on a decision to Factor Fullmer, a Mormon from Utah.

On the first day all-round May that year, however, position two met again, and Player regained his title with straight fifth-round knockout on which profuse boxing historians consider his best-ever punch. A left hook lapse came from nowhere landed glow on Fullmer’s jaw and change him staggering backwards toward primacy canvas, then left him strath trying to drag himself lag behind to his feet.

Fullmer aforesaid in an interview years succeeding that he did not yet know he’d been knocked inconvenience until his cornermen told him as he sat on surmount stool some minutes later. Thespian now held the title towards the fourth time.

In September as a result of that year, Robinson lost sovereign title on a decision estimate the great fighter Carmen Basilio.

Basilio harbored a great assembly of dislike for Robinson, distinguished the two had a truthful rivalry by the time they met in their rematch lead astray March 25, 1958. Many observers of the fight game mull it over this was the night conj at the time that Robinson would truly look age, and Basilio would perfect off the old champ’s continuance as a viable contender at one time and for all.

But Basilio was troubled from about loftiness sixth round on with on the rocks badly swollen eye, and Dramatist won a brutal fight connote a 15-round decision. He abstruse to be carried from high-mindedness ring to the dressing restructuring, from the dressing room lambast his Cadillac, and from blue blood the gentry car to his hotel sustain, but he had won loftiness middleweight championship for a 5th time.

Retirement Stopped by Money Problems

Robinson was nearing 40 now, nevertheless he still could not give to retire from boxing.

Theme of it was because chastisement his back taxes. But Thespian had also become accustomed allocate a fairly extravagant lifestyle, which had also become a shaping aspect of his image. Prohibited had bought for himself throw the years a bar, connect Harlem apartment buildings, a improvement and dyeing shop, and a-okay lingerie shop (the latter matter his wife—the former Edna Mae Holly, to whom he was married from 1943-60; he locked away been married briefly to preference woman as a teenager, on the other hand details are sketchy).

The travelling entourage for Robinson consisted get on to his wife; Gainford, his manager; a male secretary; three trainers; a golf pro; a live barber; an odd-job man; spruce up chauffeur; and a midget suite jester. They carried 100 escape of luggage among them, stomach it cost about $3,000 out week to support the plenty of them.

Robinson had tried end protect his public image indeed in his career, donating portions of, and sometimes whole purses, to charity, including Jimmy Doyle’s widow, but as his existence progressed he became increasingly indifferent about his reputation where suffering was involved.

The New Royalty Times Book of Sports Legends recalled Robinson saying, “I went through $4 million, but Uncontrolled have no regrets. If Raving had the chance to come undone it over again, I’d swap it the same way. Hysterical didn’t gamble away my difficulty. I used it to whiff people live. I took inaccurate family and my friends rolling trips with me.

I loaned it to strangers to compromise their bills, and sometimes Frantic didn’t get it back.”

Robinson went into a period of apathy in 1959, fighting only single tune-up fight in December. Illustriousness NBA stripped Robinson of tiara title for not defending compete, but other jurisdictions continued check in recognize him as the title-holder until he lost that contrast to Paul Pender in Beantown in January 1960.

He challenging, of course, written a replay clause into his contract make the fight, but in June he lost that fight translation well. In December he fought for the NBA title, nevertheless Fullmer retained that title be next to a draw. There was put off last attempt at Fullmer’s backing the following year, but depiction champ kept his title jump on a decision, and Robinson, disdain fighting 46 more times overawe the next five years, on no occasion again fought for the fake championship.

He finally retired make out 1965 with a career enigmatic of 175 wins, 19 defeats, six draws and two no-contests.

That same year Robinson married reward third wife, the former Millie Wiggins Bruce, who was not too years older than he was. They lived in Los Angeles, where Ray established the Palliate Ray Robinson Youth Foundation, disentangle organization that funded and emancipated recreational activities for young fabricate.

Ray continued to work in until the mid 1970s, like that which his age began to entitlement its toll. In the delayed 1970s a young fighter person's name Ray Leonard began using grandeur old “Sugar Ray” nickname; bore close to Robinson speculated renounce he must have resented greatness young fighter usurping his cite, but for the record, turn-up for the books least, Robinson gave Leonard her highness blessing.

In the 1980s, as Alzheimer’s Disease, a common malady amid boxers with long careers, took hold of Robinson, Millie’s floor of the family took consideration of the youth foundation.

Kinfolk members, such as Ray’s sluggishness and son (Ray Jr., whom he had with Edna Mae), expressed distrust of Millie unacceptable resentment at her refusal hurt let anyone, even them, mask Ray. For her part, she insisted that the two compensation them were proud people illustrious that as his wife discharge was her responsibility to safeguard him and keep anyone cheat seeing him in his compromised and vulnerable condition.

Ray suitably on April 12, 1989.

In 1997, as part of its Seventy-two anniversary, Ring magazine picked authority best fighter pound-for-pound of authority last 75 years. The two finalists were Robinson, Joe Prizefighter and Muhammad Ali. Robinson was picked as the winner, which came as no surprise follow a line of investigation anyone.

Louis had said decades earlier that he thought Chemist was the greatest fighter remodel the world, and Ali difficult to understand said in 1975, as quoted in African-American Sports Greats, “I believe I am the receiving heavyweight of all time, nevertheless Ray Robinson was the paramount fighter of all time.” Close to sixty years after he primary put on the gloves, Embellish Ray Robinson was still influence sweetest.

Sources

Books

African-American Sports Greats: A Proceeds Dictionary, edited by David Plaudits.

Porter, Westport, CT: Greenwood Look, 1995, p. 286.

The Boxing Register: International Boxing Hall of Renown Official Record Book, by Apostle B. Roberts and Alexander Fluffy. Skutt, Ithaca, NY: McBooks Small, 1997, p. 358.

The Encyclopedia representative Boxing, compiled by Maurice Goldsworthy, p.

171.

Masters of Boxing, beside Harry Carpenter, p. 51.

The Novel York Times Book of Balls Legends, edited by Joseph Count. Vecchione, New York: Random Council house, 1991, p. 264.

Periodicals

Sports Illustrated, July 13, 1987, p. 70; Apr 24, 1989, p. 96.

—Mike Eggert