A rivalry just isn’t a rivalry after only one battle. Ray Robinson and Jake LaMotta had confronted one another for the very first time simply 4 months prior at Madison Sq. Backyard in New York and whereas each have been world-rated and thought to be distinctive abilities, it was the welterweight Robinson who impressed of their 1942 assembly. Jake gained, at greatest, two rounds, as Sugar Ray used his pace and abilities to take a one-sided determination win with relative ease.
However each fighters most well-liked to remain busy and their first match had executed brisk enterprise, so why not do it once more? Whereas Sugar Ray and “The Bronx Bull” have been nonetheless years away from successful world titles, Robinson was already a high-profile contender, commanding large purses and large crowds, because the story was that he had not misplaced a match in some 125 consecutive battles, novice and professional. This time Jake and Ray locked up in Detroit, Robinson’s hometown, and a giant crowd bought out the previous Olympia Stadium to see a second match between the extremely powerful middleweight grinder and the gifted welterweight with the lightning-quick fingers.
Each males have been in prime form, however Ray got here in mild at 144, giving up some sixteen kilos to LaMotta. Whether or not that weight benefit finally determined the end result is anybody’s guess, however the backside line is that, not like their first assembly, Jake got here on sturdy and dominated Ray through the latter rounds of the return.
After seven rounds it appeared Robinson had a commanding factors lead and was on his technique to one other determination win. However then a determined LaMotta dramatically got here to life and started to railroad his man, making use of relentless strain and doing injury on the within. Little doubt these additional kilos got here in helpful for Jake as he bulled his well beyond Robinson’s attain and landed heavy pictures each upstairs and down.
Beginning within the eighth, it was all LaMotta and on the finish of the spherical a proper to the physique adopted by a vicious left hook to the pinnacle despatched Sugar Ray via the ropes. He by no means did beat the depend; the bell rang to save lots of Robinson from what appeared to some like an nearly sure knockout loss. Sugar Ray then survived the final two rounds, however Jake remained in cost, battering his man and sealing a very historic victory.
It might be one other eight years earlier than the good Sugar Ray Robinson misplaced one other boxing match. Unhealthy information for Jake who met Ray for a 3rd time lower than a month later, once more at The Olympia. LaMotta managed to attain one other knockdown, placing Ray down for an eight depend in spherical seven, however in any other case Robinson was sharp, holding LaMotta on the tip of his punches and nailing his man with stiff uppercuts on the within.
Thus, one of many nice rivalries in boxing historical past had begun in earnest. Three extra hard-fought battles awaited, two of them extraordinarily shut, till the feud climaxed with the brutal battle that was the “St. Valentine’s Day Bloodbath.” — Robert Portis
