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On This Day: Sugar Ray Robinson wins unprecedented fifth world title
Sugar Ray Robinson became the first boxer to win world titles five times after he regained his middleweight belt in a rematch with Carmen Basilio on this day in 1958.
The 36-year-old, who is frequently cited as the greatest prizefighter in history, defeated the favourite gruelling-yet-dazzling fight in the Chicago stadium.
The early rounds saw a brutal contest with Robinson closing Basilio's left eye early on before the veteran showcased the deft skills that made him famous.
By the ninth, the winner was dancing round the favourite, avoiding his punches, before delivering a stunning uppercut in the 15th that nearly knocked Basilio down.
Robinson, who was just as flamboyant outside of the ring, was awarded the victory by the three judges.
It was the last great fight of a career that had began at age 19 when the Georgia-born son of a cotton farmer turned professional after winning all 85 of his amateur fights.
An incredible 69 of those victories came from knockouts and he had dazzled fans with huge variety of effective punches and slick movement.
During an 11-year welterweight career, he won 128 out of 131 bouts and from 1943 to 1951 Robinson went on a 91 fight unbeaten streak, the third longest in history.
His fighting style for which heavyweight legend Muhammad Ali lauded him as "my idol" and "one of the best pound-for-pound fighters" was unusually fluid.
"Rhythm is everything in boxing", Robinson later commented. "Every move you make starts with your heart, and that's in rhythm or you're in trouble."
And he was so reflexive and natural in his style that he could very often make the right punch, whether it be a a jab or a hook, without thinking.
He once commented: "You don't think. It's all instinct. If you stop to think, you're gone."
After holding world welterweight title from 1946 to 1951, he put on ten pounds to move up to more lucrative and less Mafia-dominated middleweight boxing.
He claimed the new title that year after defeating Jake LaMotta in their sixth fight, which was portrayed in Martin Scorcese's 1980 biopic Raging Bull.
"I fought Sugar Ray so often, I almost got diabetes", later said iron-jawed LaMotta, who would only beat Robinson in the first of their bouts.
Robinson retired in 1952 and become a dancer in his adopted hometown of Harlem.
But he returned to the ring in 1955 after deciding he couldn't quit the ring just yet and claiming training for his new pursuit had left him fitter than ever.
He won five fights before losing a decision to Ralph 'Tiger' Jones.
He bounced back by defeating Rocky Castellani and then beating Bobo Olson to reclaim the middleweight title for the third time.
In 1957, he lost his title to Gene Fullmer before winning the belt back in the rematch by employing with a lightning fast, powerful left hook, his opponent's weakness.
When someone asked Robinson after the fight how far the left hook had travelled, he replied: "I can't say. But he got the message."
Later that year, he lost his title to Basilio, seen training in a British Pathé newsreel - which triggered an eagerly awaited rematch that Robinson won and made history.
From this point onwards, he career went into decline, although he kept fighting until 1965, when his record stood at 173 wins to 19 losses, six draws and two no contests.
Among those victories were an astonishing 108 knockouts, ranking him eighth among the most powerful professional boxers in history.
Afterwards, Robinson attempted a career as an entertainer, but struggled, and went on to suffer from diabetes and then Alzheimer's before dying at age 67 in 1989.
The 36-year-old, who is frequently cited as the greatest prizefighter in history, defeated the favourite gruelling-yet-dazzling fight in the Chicago stadium.
The early rounds saw a brutal contest with Robinson closing Basilio's left eye early on before the veteran showcased the deft skills that made him famous.
By the ninth, the winner was dancing round the favourite, avoiding his punches, before delivering a stunning uppercut in the 15th that nearly knocked Basilio down.
Robinson, who was just as flamboyant outside of the ring, was awarded the victory by the three judges.
It was the last great fight of a career that had began at age 19 when the Georgia-born son of a cotton farmer turned professional after winning all 85 of his amateur fights.
An incredible 69 of those victories came from knockouts and he had dazzled fans with huge variety of effective punches and slick movement.
During an 11-year welterweight career, he won 128 out of 131 bouts and from 1943 to 1951 Robinson went on a 91 fight unbeaten streak, the third longest in history.
His fighting style for which heavyweight legend Muhammad Ali lauded him as "my idol" and "one of the best pound-for-pound fighters" was unusually fluid.
"Rhythm is everything in boxing", Robinson later commented. "Every move you make starts with your heart, and that's in rhythm or you're in trouble."
And he was so reflexive and natural in his style that he could very often make the right punch, whether it be a a jab or a hook, without thinking.
He once commented: "You don't think. It's all instinct. If you stop to think, you're gone."
After holding world welterweight title from 1946 to 1951, he put on ten pounds to move up to more lucrative and less Mafia-dominated middleweight boxing.
He claimed the new title that year after defeating Jake LaMotta in their sixth fight, which was portrayed in Martin Scorcese's 1980 biopic Raging Bull.
"I fought Sugar Ray so often, I almost got diabetes", later said iron-jawed LaMotta, who would only beat Robinson in the first of their bouts.
Robinson retired in 1952 and become a dancer in his adopted hometown of Harlem.
But he returned to the ring in 1955 after deciding he couldn't quit the ring just yet and claiming training for his new pursuit had left him fitter than ever.
He won five fights before losing a decision to Ralph 'Tiger' Jones.
He bounced back by defeating Rocky Castellani and then beating Bobo Olson to reclaim the middleweight title for the third time.
In 1957, he lost his title to Gene Fullmer before winning the belt back in the rematch by employing with a lightning fast, powerful left hook, his opponent's weakness.
When someone asked Robinson after the fight how far the left hook had travelled, he replied: "I can't say. But he got the message."
Later that year, he lost his title to Basilio, seen training in a British Pathé newsreel - which triggered an eagerly awaited rematch that Robinson won and made history.
From this point onwards, he career went into decline, although he kept fighting until 1965, when his record stood at 173 wins to 19 losses, six draws and two no contests.
Among those victories were an astonishing 108 knockouts, ranking him eighth among the most powerful professional boxers in history.
Afterwards, Robinson attempted a career as an entertainer, but struggled, and went on to suffer from diabetes and then Alzheimer's before dying at age 67 in 1989.
Great article, discuss
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