Sugar Ray Robinson(1921-1989)
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Born Walker Smith, Jr., he borrowed the name of a fighter named Ray
Robinson to box as an amateur so his mother wouldn't find out.
Undefeated as an amateur boxer, 85-0, with 69 knockouts, 42 of them in
the first round. Turned pro in 1940 and won his first 40 fights. Lost
his first fight by decision to
Jake LaMotta. Robinson would defeat LaMotta
five out of six times. He joined the U.S. Army and boxed countless
exhibitions alongside World Heavyweight Champ
Joe Louis. Robinson won his next 93 straight
fights. He was a six-time world champion, winning the Welterweight
Title and then the Middleweight Title five times. His career lasted 25
years. He defeated many of the greatest boxing champions of his day,
among them LaMotta, Kid Gavilan,
Gene Fullmer,
Carmen Basilio,
Randolph Turpin and Carl "BoBo" Olsen.
Only stopped once in over 200 fights. Scored over 100 knockout
victories. Lost his last fight to Joey Archer in 1965. Friends with
Frank Sinatra. Once owned an entire city
block in Harlem. Spent millions on a jet-setting lifestyle.