I UNDERSTAND why people think Sugar Ray was the GOAT

**SouthpawRight** · 01-20-2026, 04:53 PM

add Floyd and you'd have half of the top 10 all time list in ONE photo

**ELPacman** · 01-20-2026, 04:53 PM

Originally posted by HisExcellency

I'm a big Ali & Pacquiao fan but after watching this footage of Sugar Ray, I can UNDERSTAND why people think he's the GOAT.

His fighting style is completely unique and almost impossible to win against...extreme speed, extreme athleticism, extreme combinations combined with extreme leverage and torque on his punches.

How the fuck do you win against that?

In fact, boxing came so natural to him it looked like he was SKATING in the ring just like all the greats e.g. Ali, Tyson, RJJ, Pacquiao, Naseem etc.

I WISH they made fighter's like this nowadays but unfortunately he seems to be one of a kind.

If you were born on or after 2010, most folks will disagree with you. For them either Jake Paul is the GOAT who ran into some snags or Ryan Garcia.

**SouthpawRight** · 01-20-2026, 04:59 PM

ABILITY

What other fighter could beat you more ways than could Sugar Ray Robinson? Ray could out box boxers and out punch punchers. He could do it inside or outside, going forward or backward. That cannot be said of any other all time great that finished in the top 5 in the IBRO poll. Not Harry Greb, not Henry Armstrong, not Sam Langford, not Roberto Duran. Nor could it be said of 7^th and 8th place finishers Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis. Runner up Armstrong and 3rd place finisher Greb were primarily pressure fighters who had to carry the fight to be effective, they could only fight one way and were not as versatile as Robinson. Men like Louis, Langford, and Duran could box and punch, but they could not “outbox” boxers with speed and agility. Clever boxers like Ali and 6^th place finisher Willie Pep could outbox punchers but could not out punch punchers. Ali was also one dimensional in that he was strictly a head hunter and not a complete fighter. Pep while a superb strategic boxer lacked the all around ability, hitting power and competition of Robinson. The only other boxer who finished in the top 10 that can outbox boxers and outpunch punchers and can compare in all around ability is 10^th place finisher Ray Leonard but he lacked Robbie’s longevity, his two handed power and was not quite as indestructible as was Robinson.

Although not as fundamentally sound as Joe Louis, Robinson was more multifaceted. Louis was an economically sound boxer who wasted no movement, had a tight structure and threw short compact punches with precision and power. According to the boxing book that is how it is supposed to be done. Robinson transcended that by adding fluidity of movement and grace to his ring style. Sugar Ray was not the first fighter to fight in the elegant style that he possessed. What made Robinson so special was that he combined speed, balance and flash with devastating explosive power.

Men like Louis, Langford, and Dempsey could knock you out with one punch from either hand. So could Robinson. Ray could do it with his powerful left hook as he did against Gene Fullmer or with his perfect straight right as he did against Rocky Graziano. Joe Louis could throw triple left hooks with speed, power and accuracy that could destroy a man. Robinson could throw triple left hooks and triple right hooks that could do the same. Who else could do that and maintain frightening power? Punch for punch Ray Robinson was one of boxing histories all time best punchers. The Ring magazine rated him 11th among all the great punchers of history in their 2003 article the 100 greatest punchers of all time.

In terms of combination punching the two best fighters in history for speed, power, and accuracy are Joe Louis and Ray Robinson. Robinson worked some of the prettiest combinations ever seen and can be considered the best ever in this category. Robinson was also a great body puncher. In a comparison to some of the great Mexican body punchers of the recent era like Julio Cesar Chavez and Marco Antonio Barrera; who go to the body primarily around the opponents guard, Robinson punched up the middle as well as to the outside. Robinson was an aggressive, dexterous puncher with many weapons to choose from.

Killer instinct is the instrument the drives the wheel of destruction in many of the great fighters. Nat Fleischer once wrote that Robinson, for all his skill, could rip and tear like a Jack Dempsey. Some commentators have stated that Robinson was not a great defensive fighter. This is no doubt true. When one is aggressive and really goes after their opponent’s they are going to leave themselves open for counters. This is not necessarily a bad thing. When Robinson was on the attack his opponents had to worry about his full battery of offensive weapons. Robinson’s defense was his irrepressible offense, although he used his footwork, height and reach to get away from trouble when necessary.

Robinson had a great chin and his will to win is among the best. Sugar Ray was never physically knocked out in more than 200 pro fights. One can see Robinson’s gritty determination in his films. He punishes his rivals as though he is upset that they would even think that they could compete with him. He was as determined and confident as any boxing champion in history.

Ray Robinson was the archetype of a complete fighter. If one combines his polished, grand boxing style with his powerful punching and cast iron chin with a will to win unsurpassed in the annals of boxing one has a perfect fighter.

**SouthpawRight** · 01-20-2026, 05:01 PM

Originally posted by ELPacman

If you were born on or after 2010, most folks will disagree with you. For them either Jake Paul is the GOAT who ran into some snags or Ryan Garcia.

this current generation of teenie boppers with their fried TikTok brains have ba$tardized the term GOAT

they think there can be more than one goat

**SouthpawRight** · 01-20-2026, 05:07 PM

Originally posted by HisExcellency

Originally posted by SouthpawRight

ABILITY

What other fighter could beat you more ways than could Sugar Ray Robinson? Ray could out box boxers and out punch punchers. He could do it inside or outside, going forward or backward. That cannot be said of any other all time great that finished in the top 5 in the IBRO poll. Not Harry Greb, not Henry Armstrong, not Sam Langford, not Roberto Duran. Nor could it be said of 7^th and 8th place finishers Muhammad Ali and Joe Louis. Runner up Armstrong and 3rd place finisher Greb were primarily pressure fighters who had to carry the fight to be effective, they could only fight one way and were not as versatile as Robinson. Men like Louis, Langford, and Duran could box and punch, but they could not “outbox” boxers with speed and agility. Clever boxers like Ali and 6^th place finisher Willie Pep could outbox punchers but could not out punch punchers. Ali was also one dimensional in that he was strictly a head hunter and not a complete fighter. Pep while a superb strategic boxer lacked the all around ability, hitting power and competition of Robinson. The only other boxer who finished in the top 10 that can outbox boxers and outpunch punchers and can compare in all around ability is 10^th place finisher Ray Leonard but he lacked Robbie’s longevity, his two handed power and was not quite as indestructible as was Robinson.

Although not as fundamentally sound as Joe Louis, Robinson was more multifaceted. Louis was an economically sound boxer who wasted no movement, had a tight structure and threw short compact punches with precision and power. According to the boxing book that is how it is supposed to be done. Robinson transcended that by adding fluidity of movement and grace to his ring style. Sugar Ray was not the first fighter to fight in the elegant style that he possessed. What made Robinson so special was that he combined speed, balance and flash with devastating explosive power.

Men like Louis, Langford, and Dempsey could knock you out with one punch from either hand. So could Robinson. Ray could do it with his powerful left hook as he did against Gene Fullmer or with his perfect straight right as he did against Rocky Graziano. Joe Louis could throw triple left hooks with speed, power and accuracy that could destroy a man. Robinson could throw triple left hooks and triple right hooks that could do the same. Who else could do that and maintain frightening power? Punch for punch Ray Robinson was one of boxing histories all time best punchers. The Ring magazine rated him 11th among all the great punchers of history in their 2003 article the 100 greatest punchers of all time.

In terms of combination punching the two best fighters in history for speed, power, and accuracy are Joe Louis and Ray Robinson. Robinson worked some of the prettiest combinations ever seen and can be considered the best ever in this category. Robinson was also a great body puncher. In a comparison to some of the great Mexican body punchers of the recent era like Julio Cesar Chavez and Marco Antonio Barrera; who go to the body primarily around the opponents guard, Robinson punched up the middle as well as to the outside. Robinson was an aggressive, dexterous puncher with many weapons to choose from.

Killer instinct is the instrument the drives the wheel of destruction in many of the great fighters. Nat Fleischer once wrote that Robinson, for all his skill, could rip and tear like a Jack Dempsey. Some commentators have stated that Robinson was not a great defensive fighter. This is no doubt true. When one is aggressive and really goes after their opponent’s they are going to leave themselves open for counters. This is not necessarily a bad thing. When Robinson was on the attack his opponents had to worry about his full battery of offensive weapons. Robinson’s defense was his irrepressible offense, although he used his footwork, height and reach to get away from trouble when necessary.

Robinson had a great chin and his will to win is among the best. Sugar Ray was never physically knocked out in more than 200 pro fights. One can see Robinson’s gritty determination in his films. He punishes his rivals as though he is upset that they would even think that they could compete with him. He was as determined and confident as any boxing champion in history.

Ray Robinson was the archetype of a complete fighter. If one combines his polished, grand boxing style with his powerful punching and cast iron chin with a will to win unsurpassed in the annals of boxing one has a perfect fighter.

I WISH they made fighter's like this nowadays but unfortunately he seems to be one of a kind.

they do his name is Naoya

Naoya is a Japanese Mini Sugar Robinson

very good jab that works up and downstairs

can ko with either hand to the body or the head

outboxed a boxer when he outboxed bbc Stephen

out punched a puncher when he folded manny's Cousin Nonito

capable of fighting outside midrange inside back foot

strong killer instinct with the defensive holes to match can be knocked down just like Sugar Robinson

**SouthpawRight** · 01-20-2026, 05:14 PM

Sugar Leonard was most inspired by Muhammad's style but ultimately boxed like CONVENTIONAL edition Sugar Robinson

**daggum** · 01-20-2026, 05:17 PM

sugar ray robinson lost 19 times...floyd didnt lose 19 rounds his entire career! not sure he lost any but a couple debatable ones i guess

**djtmal** · 01-20-2026, 05:21 PM

Originally posted by SouthpawRight

add Floyd and you'd have half of the top 10 all time list in ONE photo

Floyd who Patterson

**SouthpawRight** · 01-20-2026, 05:24 PM

Originally posted by djtmal

Floyd who Patterson

yes the best defense ever seen in boxing Floyd Patterson

I UNDERSTAND why people think Sugar Ray was the GOAT