On Might 1, 1957 Sugar Ray Robinson squared off with middleweight champion Gene Fullmer at Chicago Stadium for the 2nd time. Robinson, all by the 1940’s and within the early 1950’s had been unbeatable. However now on the age of 36 he was on a downward slide in his magnificent profession which had begun in 1940.
Most Boxing writers and historians consult with Sugar Ray as the best fighter of all time and deservedly so. It was mentioned of Robinson that he might outbox the boxers and outpunch the punchers.
Only for the document let’s take a quick have a look at a few of his accomplishments within the ring. Robinson’s early profession, the time when he was unbeatable helps one to know his greatness as a fighter. He received all eighty 5 of his beginner fights. Sixty 9 of these wins got here by KO. Of the sixty 9 KO’s, forty got here within the first spherical.
In 1940 Robinson started his skilled profession and received his first forty skilled fights earlier than dropping a choice to the “Bronx Bull” Jake Lamotta. Sugar Ray avenged the loss to Lamotta three weeks later then received his subsequent ninety fights in a row, combating as usually as sixteen occasions a yr.
In 1946 Robinson received the welterweight championship and held it till 1951 when he stepped up in school to problem Jake Lamotta for the middleweight title. He stopped Lamotta within the thirteenth spherical on February 14, 1951 in a battle that might be without end referred to as the Saint Valentine’s Day Bloodbath.
After failing in an try to maneuver up and take the sunshine heavyweight title from Joey Maxim in 1952 Robinson retired for the primary time. He stayed retired for two ½ years and got here again in 1952. Sugar Ray finally received the middleweight championship once more, however he didn’t come near the fighter he had been pre 1952. Robinson misplaced the title to Gene Fullmer by resolution on January 2, 1957. Fullmer was a really rugged fighter who was constructed like a tank and fought that means.
Within the rematch Robinson was targeted on catching Gene Fullmer on the best way in with a left hook, or with a left proper mixture. Of their first battle Fullmer was extra cautious of Sugar Ray’s well-known punching energy. When Fullmer bore in, he would are available together with his head low and his chin tucked into to his proper elbow for cover. Within the 2nd spherical Robinson seen that Fullmer would typically drop his elbow exposing his chin when he ready to launch a physique assault.
Robinson deliberately ignored the opening hoping to present Fullmer a false sense of safety. A number of occasions Gene repeated the error, to the extent that his nook warned him to maintain his guard up. Going into the fifth spherical Fullmer, who was a 3 to 1 favourite, grew to become more and more careless. Lastly Robinson acted and threw the deadly left hook that boxing historians to today consult with as “The Excellent Punch”. Fullmer instantly crumpled to the canvas and was counted out, his legs unconsciously transferring in all instructions in a futile effort to rise up.
When Gene got here round after the KO, he was disoriented and had no reminiscence of what had occurred. He noticed Sugar Ray celebrating throughout the ring and requested why he was leaping up and down, not realizing he had simply been KO’d. When he requested his coach why the battle had been stopped he was advised that the depend had reached eleven.
Sugar Ray Robinson sadly would proceed to battle for an additional eight years, and proceed his downward spiral. For that one temporary second on Might 1, 1957 nevertheless, he introduced again the magic to tens of millions of TV viewers who had by no means earlier than seen the greatness that was Sugar Ray Robinson.
