Boxing

 

Time Tunnel: Ray Robinson against Fullmer and Basilio - the wars of the original dancing master

By Murali Para

17.09 - In the 1940s, Sugar Ray Robinson dominated at welterweight so impressively that many consider him as the finest ever at 147 lbs, sustaining as he did only 1 loss in his first 10 years as a pro. His key attributes included fast, accurate combination punching and speedy, deft footwork that made him an elusive target. Eventually, Sugar Ray moved up in weight in search of new challenges. Surprisingly, he received his 2nd career defeat in a middleweight title fight in July 1951 at the hands of Briton Randolph Turpin. This was put down to his relaxed lifestyle in his European travels of the time. But in the rematch 2 months later, Sugar Ray would regain his title.

In his battles with Gene Fullmer and Carmen Basilio for the middleweight title in the late 1950s, Robinson displayed his masterful experience, his heart and his champion's spirit. Fullmer and Basilio were battling warriors, and these clashes were gruelling encounters of the same ilk as a Barrera-Morales I or a Ward-Gatti. An ageing Robinson took on these young, hungry fighters and managed to prevail. Of course Sugar Ray's bravery as a fighter was not in doubt. This was a man who stepped up in 1952 to challenge for Joey Maxim's light-heavyweight crown, retiring only through exhaustion and in spite of an impressive lead on the scorecards.

The fights Ray Robinson had with Fullmer and Basilio were tremendously competitive. Prior to the 1st Fullmer fight, Robinson was allegedly taking tranquillisers to help him sleep and in the fight itself, his work seemed to lack its usual snap. More than 10 years younger than Sugar Ray, Gene Fullmer was a tough Mormon from Utah; in the ring he was an aggressive puncher with a come-forward style. The challenger set a furious pace that caused no end of difficulties to the struggling champion, whose eye was cut in the 14th round. Fullmer managed to take away Robinson's title via a clear points decision.

But in typical fashion, Sugar Ray was fired up for revenge. He exercised the return fight clause available to him and prepared meticulously. Robinson noticed from studying videos that when Fullmer threw right hands to the body, he left his chin open to a left hook counter. At Chicago Stadium, Gene Fullmer set out much as he did in his 1st clash with Robinson and seemed to win the opening 3 rounds. But in the 5th, just as the champion shot out a right hand to Robinson's body, Sugar Ray sent a lightning-fast left hook to the chin of Fullmer for a stunning KO. Sugar Ray Robinson was the world middleweight champion for the 4th time.

If anything, Ray Robinson's battles with former marine, Carmen Basilio, were even better than those
with Fullmer. Robinson-Basilio I and II were voted the Ring magazine's fights of the year for 1957 and 1958 respectively. In September 1957, Basilio took away Robinson's middleweight crown via a controversial split decision at the Yankee Stadium. Sugar Ray worked behind the jab, keeping Basilio at a distance, while Basilio bulled his way inside, winging punches and forcing the pace. The fight was a war. It was a hard contest to score, but the judges had it 9-5-1 Basilio, 9-6 Robinson, and 8-6-1 Basilio. There was a new middleweight champion.

But would Sugar Ray be content to let Basilio reign? Incredibly, just as Sugar Ray avenged losses to La Motta, Turpin and Fullmer, he did so against Basilio. From the outset, he let sharp, accurate combinations go to the head and body of Basilio, whose left eye soon became swollen and shut tightly. Ray Robinson employed more right hand leads and uppercuts this time as well, all to great effect. And sure enough, the judges announced the verdict in favour of the Sugarman: 71-64 Robinson, 69-66 Basilio and 72-64 Robinson. Revenge was sweet once again for Robinson who claimed the middleweight title for the 5th time, a record for any weight class.

What is most impressive for me is the manner of Robinson's revenge victories against fighters who were talented young champions in their own right. It took less than 5 rounds for Sugar Ray to lay Fullmer out cold with what Emanuel Steward would later call "the perfect punch". And the one-sided beating he administered to Basilio in their return fight was extraordinary. Something of a parallel can be drawn between Robinson's battles with Fullmer and Basilio and those Ali had with Frazier and Norton. Ali was as unbeatable in his prime as Sugar Ray was, but both these dancing masters overcame tough foes in epic encounters as they aged gracefully.

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