Robinson, Sugar Ray

1921 – He was born Walker Smith Jr., on the 3rd day of May this year in Georgia.

1940 – He became this year Golden Gloves lightweight champion.

1941 – He defeated world champion Sammy Angott, future champion Marty Servo and former champion Fritzie Zivic.

1942 – He was named “Fighter of the Year” after winning re-matches against Zivic, Servo, and Angott, winning a decision over Jake LaMotta, for a total of 14 fights with no losses.

1946 – He held the world welterweight title from this year until 1951.

1945 – He had a draw with his fight against Jose Basora.

1946 – He was matched again with Tommy Bell, whom he had once beaten by decision, was matched in New York City for the World Welterweight title for the second time.

1947 – He defended his title for the first time by knocking out Jimmy Doyle in the eighth round.

1948 – He fought five times, but only one bout was a title defense. Among the fighters he defeated in those non-title bouts, was future world champion Kid Gavilan in a close, controversial 10 round fight.

1949 – He boxed 16 times, but again only defended his title once. In that title fight, a rematch with Gavilan, the challenger was again beaten on points. 

1950 – This year brought 19 fights to his reign. He successfully defended his Welterweight title against Charley Fusari.

1951 – He and LaMotta met for the sixth time. The fight would become known as The St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. He would again win the “Fighter of the Year” award for this year.

1952 – This year brought the second bout with Olson, which ended in another victory for Robinson, by decision.

1955 – After his defeat to the former champion Rocky Graziano, he returned to the ring. He won five fights, but the “ring rust” was still there, and he lost a decision to Ralph ‘Tiger’ Jones.

1956 – He closed the four fight series with a fourth round knock out in this year.

1961 – He and Fullmer fought for a fourth time, with Fullmer retaining the WBA middleweight title by a unanimous decision in Robinson’s last title bout.

1965 – He was honored with a Sugar Ray Robinson Night on December 10 of this year in New York’s Madison Square Garden. He retired from the ring with a record of 175-19-6-2 (110 Kos) in 202 professional bouts.

1989 – He died of diabetes mellitus this year.