1. Sugar Ray Robinson 173-19-6, 108 KOs
Birthplace: Alley, GA
Professional career: 1940-1965
In 1921 the New York Yankees purchased 20 acres in the Bronx to build Yankee Stadium, Babe Ruth became the home run king with number 120, Ty Cobb was the fourth player to get 3,000 hits and the greatest fighter pound for pound, Walker Smith Jr. was born.
Walker Smith Jr. got his start as an amateur when attempting to enter his first tournament he was unable to attain an AAU membership and borrowed the name of Ray Robinson who was not present, but had an active license. He finished his amateur career at 85-0, 69 KOs with 40 of those knockouts coming in the first round.
Robinson turned pro in 1941 and won his first 40 bouts including a pair of massacres of Fritzie Zivic until meeting The Bronx Bull Jake LaMotta who bullied Robinson through the ropes in the eighth round and took a 10 round unanimous decision.
By 1943 Robinson had won 73 fights cleaning out the 147 pound division’s top contenders with his solitary welterweight loss to LaMotta but was unable to secure a title shot because he was unwilling to work with the Mafia who largely controlled boxing at the time.
In 1946 the persistent and undeniable talent that was Robinson got his chance and challenged Tommy Bell for the title that had been vacated by Marty Servo. Robinson was dropped in the melee but emerged as the winner and new welterweight champion.
Continuing his unprecedented tear through the welterweights Robinson had a unique experience. Prior to his fight against Jimmy Doyle Robinson had a premonition in the form of a dream that he killed Doyle in the ring. Frightened, he sought religious counsel and tried to back out of the fight but was convinced by parishioners otherwise.
Robinsons fear became a reality after knocking Doyle out in the eighth round his opponent slipped in to a coma and died.
Amazingly, charges of manslaughter were filed against Robinson though justice prevailed and nothing materialized.
After learning that Doyle intended to buy his mother a house with his earnings Robinson purchased the house for her in his honor.
In 1948 Robinson fought 5 times including a savage war with Kid Gavilan, an All-Time great from Cuba against whom he was awarded a close 10 round decision.
In 1950 Robinson reeled off 19 more wins at welterweight before advancing to middleweight where he became a five time champion, further cementing his legacy as an absolute icon of boxing.
Robinson is generally accepted as pound for pound the greatest fighter to step foot in a ring.
Greatest rival: Jake LaMotta, the first to defeat Robinson in the first of their five fights with the rest coming at middleweight. LaMotta once commented that he fought Sugar Ray so many times he was surprised he didn’t develop diabetes.
