Sugar Ray Robinson

Sugar Ray Robinson (born Walker Smith Jr., May 3, 1921 – April 12, 1989) was an American boxer. He won the welterweight and middleweight world championships. Many boxing historians rank Robinson as the best boxer who ever lived.

Early life

Robinson was born in Ailey, Georgia. He moved to Harlem, New York City when he was 12.

Career

He had no losses as an amateur boxer. He became a professional boxer in 1940 and won the welterweight title from Johnny Bratton in 1946. He then beat Jake LaMotta (who had, up to that time, been the only man to beat him) for the middleweight championship in 1951. He lost and regained the title from Randy Turpin before trying, and failing, to beat Joey Maxim for the light heavyweight championship in 1952. He retired later that year. He made a comeback, however, and won the middleweight title again in 1955. He lost it to Gene Fullmer in 1957, but defeated him in a rematch. Later that year Carmen Basilio also beat Robinson for the title, but Robinson defeated him in 1958 to get the championship back.

Death

Robinson continued to fight until the 1960s. He died of diabetes and Alzheimer's disease at the age of 67 in Culver City, California in 1989.

Other websites

Boxing record Archived 2006-04-20 at the Wayback Machine
The Official Site of Sugar Ray Robinson Archived 2008-04-04 at the Wayback Machine

Preceded by Marty Servo Vacated	World Welterweight Champion 20 Dec 1946 – 14 Feb 1951 Vacated	Succeeded by Johnny Bratton
Preceded by Jake LaMotta	World Middleweight Champion 14 Feb 1951 – 10 Jul 1951	Succeeded by Randy Turpin
Preceded by Randy Turpin	World Middleweight Champion 12 Sep 1951 – Dec 1952 Retired	Succeeded by Carl (Bobo) Olson
Preceded by Carl (Bobo) Olson	World Middleweight Champion 9 Dec 1955 – 2 Jan 1957	Succeeded by Gene Fullmer
Preceded by Gene Fullmer	World Middleweight Champion 1 May 1957 – 23 Sep 1957	Succeeded by Carmen Basilio
Preceded by Carmen Basilio	World Middleweight Champion 25 Mar 1958 – 22 Jan 1960	Succeeded by Paul Pender