Robinson Didn't Have The Option Of Taking On Light Touches

[StarshipTrooper]

This is in response to a post in a thread over in NSB >>>>>

Not true. He fought Maxim years after his diva like attitude. Like I said not comparing the two with what they accomplished in boxing. But, both were all about the benjamins. Why did he fight Lamotta so many times but never fought Burley? Because, who was more high profile fight?

Robinson rightly gets criticism for ducking Burley. On the other hand, at the time Robinson was having his six fights with LaMotta Jake was regarded as the best Middleweight in the world. Those were high profile fights precisely because LaMotta was the best Middleweight out there. In other words, the money involved was in direct proportion the quality of the opposition. Robinson wanted the money sure, but if he wanted to be paid like a superstar he had to fight a superstar's opposition.

And, no fighter in history, not even your favorite fighter of all time(unless it's Winky) would turn down a fight with a guy like Oscar and what he brings to the table.

So again it's unfair to criticize him for making a move that many would have done.

My issue isn't that he fought De La Hoya for the payday. If he had fought the best in his division AND fought De La Hoya for the payday it wouldn't be an issue at all. The issue that I have is taking the payday INSTEAD of fighting the best in the division.

I hope that clarifies things.

Poet

[Rockin']

He didn't need to take on "Light Touches". When asked if he wanted a fight he didn't care who the opponent was. The only question that he would ask was how much. Robinson was the man! .............Rockin'

[jrosales13]

I'm not questioning SRR greatness and eagerness to fight the best.

But, SRR fought for the money. It's cleared that he did and there is nothing wrong with that. If Burley would have brought the money then he would have fought Burley. Even Burley said that if he was in SRR shoes he would have done the same.

Point was that you can't criticize Floyd for fighting Oscar. You don't have to give Floyd credit. But, you can't criticize for him doing something that every fighter not named Winky would have done.

SRR would have fought that version of Oscar, if it guaranteed SRR a career high payday.

[RubenSonny]

Robinson wanted the money sure, but if he wanted to be paid like a superstar he had to fight a superstar's opposition.

Robinson was offered what would've been a career high pay day to face Burley.

[McGoorty]

I'm not questioning SRR greatness and eagerness to fight the best.

But, SRR fought for the money. It's cleared that he did and there is nothing wrong with that. If Burley would have brought the money then he would have fought Burley. Even Burley said that if he was in SRR shoes he would have done the same.

Point was that you can't criticize Floyd for fighting Oscar. You don't have to give Floyd credit. But, you can't criticize for him doing something that every fighter not named Winky would have done.

SRR would have fought that version of Oscar, if it guaranteed SRR a career high payday.

Any version of Oscar would be very sorry (physically), if he ever met a SRR in the ring. He wouldn't look quite so "Golden".

[Greatest1942]

Robinson was offered what would've been a career high pay day to face Burley.

I think after agreeing on a $25000 pay day , Robinson said he needed $50,000 to fight Burley....

Are you talking of this incident?

[RubenSonny]

I think after agreeing on a $25000 pay day , Robinson said he needed $50,000 to fight Burley....

Are you talking of this incident?

I wouldn't know of that detail, all I have read is that Burley made an offer at some point during the Lamotta series and it would have been the his biggest pay day to date. I just googled a few key words, and from my claim has been posted on other forums. I can't find a solid source yet, I read this a long time ago.

[Greatest1942]

I wouldn't know of that detail, all I have read is that Burley made an offer at some point during the Lamotta series and it would have been the his biggest pay day to date. I just googled a few key words, and from my claim has been posted on other forums. I can't find a solid source yet, I read this a long time ago.

Well if Robinson faced Burley he would be giving up weight, since Burley was fighting at middle while Ray was at welter...don't you think Burley was too dangerous to take on even with that amount of money and whiel giving up weight?

I think Burley himself was on record saying in Sugar's place he would have ducked him too...Sugar might have ducked Burley , which there is some evidence ,but I do think that he did take on most guys....

[RubenSonny]

Well if Robinson faced Burley he would be giving up weight, since Burley was fighting at middle while Ray was at welter...don't you think Burley was too dangerous to take on even with that amount of money and whiel giving up weight?

I think Burley himself was on record saying in Sugar's place he would have ducked him too...Sugar might have ducked Burley , which there is some evidence ,but I do think that he did take on most guys....

He gave up weight against Lamotta.

I'm not questioning Robinsons greatness, I rank him as GOAT and I don't believe there to have been a more skilled fighter. I was just pointing out that there was a reward for fighting Burley, not just Lamotta.

[JAB5239]

Well if Robinson faced Burley he would be giving up weight, since Burley was fighting at middle while Ray was at welter...don't you think Burley was too dangerous to take on even with that amount of money and whiel giving up weight?

I think Burley himself was on record saying in Sugar's place he would have ducked him too...Sugar might have ducked Burley , which there is some evidence ,but I do think that he did take on most guys....

I can't comment on the offer to fight Burley because I don't ever remember having read anything of that, but Burley was definitely quoted in the book "Charley Burley and the black murderers row" as saying he couldn't blame Ray for not fighting him given the financial situation and economics of this fight compared to the ones Ray was fighting.

As far as giving up weight.....I think Ray could have handled the weight just fine. Even by todays standards he was a very big welter and had the advantage in height over Burley who even in 1942, 43' and 44' was still weighing in the low 150's for many fights and only exceeded 160lbs on 10 occasions on a 98 bout career.