Boxing star Sugar Ray Robinson, or Walker Smith Jr., was referred to as the greatest boxer of all time. He was born on May 3 1921. His birth certificate states that he was born in Ailey, Georgia while his autobiography says that he was born in Detroit Michigan. His parents were Walker Smith Sr., a farmer, and Leila Hurst. His older sisters were Marie and Evelyn. At the age of 12, his parents separated, and he moved to New York with his mother.
Robinson tried to enter into a boxing tournament at the age of 14, but failed to do so because he was not able to get an AAU membership card, not until he turned 16. He got his name as Sugar Ray Robinson when George Grainford branded his style as “sweet as sugar“.
Sugar Ray Robinson started his professional boxing career in the year 1940. His first match was against Joe Echevarnia by knockout in the second round. Throughout the year, Robinson had another five boxing matches, and won four times. After a year, he had boxing matches with Sammy Angott, Marty Servo and Fritzie Zivic, who were boxing champions as well. Robinson and Zivic had a rematch in 1942, in which Zivic lost. Robinson did a rematch with Servo as well.
It was in the year 1942 that Sugar Ray Robinson was branded as the “Fighter of the Year”. He won against Jake LaMotta and Izzy Jannazo, along with three other boxing competitions. That year, he attained 14 wins and zero losses. He was also able to defeat his childhood boxing idol Henry Armstrong. In the year 1945, Robinson won against Jose Basora via a 10 round draw.
Robinson’s career under the welterweight division became a success when he defeated the greatest of his top challengers. He had a total of 75 fights in the year 1946. After being refused to make any boxing match, he was finally given an opportunity with a fight against Tommy Bell. They fought for the welterweight title on December 20, 1946.
The boxing star defended his welterweight title against Jimmy Doyle. Doyle died after he got serious injuries from the fight that happened on June 1947. After a year, Robinson had five more boxing matches, including a fight against Kid Gavilan. By the year 1949, he fought a total of 16 matches. He made a rematch with Gavilan, and won by decision during the second half. His toughest fight by that time was against Henry Brimm.
Sugar Ray Robinson had 19 matches in the year 1950. He was able to defend his title when he won the match against Charley Fusari. His succeeding fight after Fusari was with George Costner.
He got the middleweight title from Robert Villermain in 1950.
Robinson’s professional boxing record includes 173 wins with 108 knockouts, 19 defeats and 6 draws.
