Sugar Ray Robinson

About

Sugar Ray Robinson, born Walker Smith Jr. on May 3, 1921, in Ailey, Georgia, is widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers in history. He began his professional career in 1940 and went on to win 174 fights, with 109 of those victories coming by knockout. Robinson's amateur record was equally impressive, with an undefeated record of 85 wins, 69 by knockout. He won the Golden Gloves featherweight title in 1939 and turned professional later that year. Robinson held the world welterweight title from 1946 to 1951 and the middleweight title five times between 1951 and 1960. He is celebrated for his speed, power, and agility, earning him the nickname "Sugar" due to his "sweet" boxing style. His legacy extends beyond boxing; he was a social icon in the 1940s and 1950s, known for his charisma and flamboyant lifestyle. Robinson was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990 and remains a benchmark for pound-for-pound greatness in boxing.