So often we simply state that Robinson is the greatest fighter of all time as if its fact, without looking at why that is. Well, just for the hell of it, Im going to compile a list of his accomplishments(If I miss any, feel free to append it, he had a very long and exhausting career full of excellent opponents I might have missed).
Sammy Angottx3-Robinson beat this HOF fighter at Lightweight, and Angott would become Lightweight champ 5 months after losing to Robinson. Less than 2 years later he would go on to beat the first man to beat the ATG Willie Pep. Very overlooked win. Robinson would beat Angott twice more at Welterweight.
Fritzie Zivicx2-Robinson would beat the HOF fighter Zivic twice in a row, Zivic was the Welterweight champ only three months before fighting Robinson(gaining the title from Henry Armstrong, losing it to Freddy Cochrane).
Marty Servox2-Robinson would beat him twice, the first time when he was 42-0-2. Servo would beat Cochrane to become the Welterweight champ a few years later.
Tony Motisi-top ten at welterweight
Jake LaMotta-Robinson would beat this HOF Middleweight 5 times, many times weighing in as a natural Weltweight or less compared to the much heavier LaMotta. Their first fight happened 9 years before Robinson beat LaMotta to claim the Middleweight crown.
Ian Jannazzox4-top ten at WW
Jackie Wilson-top five at WW
Ralph Zanelli-top ten at WW
Henry Armstrong-HOF, arguably #2 best ever p4p, multi weight class champ.
Tommy Bell-#1 contender at WW, Robinson finally wins the vacant WW title by beating Bell
Jimmy Doyle-top ten at WW
Jackie Wilson-top ten at WW
Bernard Docusen-top five at WW
Kid Gavilanx2-HOF, future WW champ, top ten at WW
George Costner-#2 at WW
Robert Villemainx2-#3 at MW, had wins over LaMotta and Kid Gavilan
Charley Fusari-top ten at WW
Bobo Olsenx4-HOF Middleweight, would go on to become Middleweight champ about 3 years after the first Robinson losses, Robinson would beat him again by decision during his MW title run, Robinson would KO him again after his first retirement to regain the Middleweight title in 1955
Jake LaMotta-listed again because Robinson won the MW title by stopping him
Randy Turpin-Avenging his loss to Turpin by KO, Robinson wins back the MW title from this HOF MW, Turpin rated #1 at MW
Rocky Graziano-Robinson KOed this HOF Middleweight in 3, Graziano was rated in the top ten but not prime
Rocky Castellani-Robinson would come out of retirement in 1955 and beat the #2 rated MW by decision(retiring after ahead on points but dying from heat exhaustion against HOF LHW Joey Maxim)
Gene Fullmer-Robinson would go 1-2-1 against this HOF MW, KOing him in their second bout. Gene Fullmer was champ and would go on to become MW champ again
Carmen Basilio-Robinson would avenge his earlier loss to the HOF former WW champ and regain the title
exhausting list, and I probably havent even named all his good wins either. 18 wins over HOF fighters from lightweight to middleweight
Sammy Angottx3-Robinson beat this HOF fighter at Lightweight, and Angott would become Lightweight champ 5 months after losing to Robinson. Less than 2 years later he would go on to beat the first man to beat the ATG Willie Pep. Very overlooked win. Robinson would beat Angott twice more at Welterweight.
Fritzie Zivicx2-Robinson would beat the HOF fighter Zivic twice in a row, Zivic was the Welterweight champ only three months before fighting Robinson(gaining the title from Henry Armstrong, losing it to Freddy Cochrane).
Marty Servox2-Robinson would beat him twice, the first time when he was 42-0-2. Servo would beat Cochrane to become the Welterweight champ a few years later.
Tony Motisi-top ten at welterweight
Jake LaMotta-Robinson would beat this HOF Middleweight 5 times, many times weighing in as a natural Weltweight or less compared to the much heavier LaMotta. Their first fight happened 9 years before Robinson beat LaMotta to claim the Middleweight crown.
Ian Jannazzox4-top ten at WW
Jackie Wilson-top five at WW
Ralph Zanelli-top ten at WW
Henry Armstrong-HOF, arguably #2 best ever p4p, multi weight class champ.
Tommy Bell-#1 contender at WW, Robinson finally wins the vacant WW title by beating Bell
Jimmy Doyle-top ten at WW
Jackie Wilson-top ten at WW
Bernard Docusen-top five at WW
Kid Gavilanx2-HOF, future WW champ, top ten at WW
George Costner-#2 at WW
Robert Villemainx2-#3 at MW, had wins over LaMotta and Kid Gavilan
Charley Fusari-top ten at WW
Bobo Olsenx4-HOF Middleweight, would go on to become Middleweight champ about 3 years after the first Robinson losses, Robinson would beat him again by decision during his MW title run, Robinson would KO him again after his first retirement to regain the Middleweight title in 1955
Jake LaMotta-listed again because Robinson won the MW title by stopping him
Randy Turpin-Avenging his loss to Turpin by KO, Robinson wins back the MW title from this HOF MW, Turpin rated #1 at MW
Rocky Graziano-Robinson KOed this HOF Middleweight in 3, Graziano was rated in the top ten but not prime
Rocky Castellani-Robinson would come out of retirement in 1955 and beat the #2 rated MW by decision(retiring after ahead on points but dying from heat exhaustion against HOF LHW Joey Maxim)
Gene Fullmer-Robinson would go 1-2-1 against this HOF MW, KOing him in their second bout. Gene Fullmer was champ and would go on to become MW champ again
Carmen Basilio-Robinson would avenge his earlier loss to the HOF former WW champ and regain the title
exhausting list, and I probably havent even named all his good wins either. 18 wins over HOF fighters from lightweight to middleweight
Comment