Sugar Ray Robinson

Overview

Born
May 3, 1921 · Detroit, Michigan, USA
Died
April 12, 1989 · Culver City, California, USA (Alzheimer's disease and diabetes)
Birth name
Walker Smith Jr.
Nickname
- The Prince of Harlem
Height
5′ 11″ (1.80 m)

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.
- IMDb mini biography by: angelsunchained

Boxer Jake LaMotta called him "the three toughest fighters (he) ever went up against", adding "I fought Sugar so many times, I'm surprised I'm not diabetic!"
Even in this day and age, Sugar Ray Robinson is still rated as the best pound-for-pound boxer in history.
Lavish spender who tipped 20 dollar bills (in the 1950s that was big tipping), wore custom-made suits, silk shirts and ties, diamonds, lived in the best hotels, traveled around the world with a 20 person entourage for which he paid all the bills.
Was the boxing idol of Muhammad Ali.
Easily spotted wherever he went, behind the wheel of his always current-year, always fuchsia-colored Cadillac convertible.