September 12, 1951: The Balance Is Restored As Sugar Ray Robinson Avenges His Upset Loss To Randolph Turpin

Later today, in Las Vegas, British warrior Conor Benn will score one heck of an upset if he manages to defeat Ryan Garcia and take the WBC welterweight title. Plenty of us (myself included) don’t think it will happen, with Garcia instead scoring his predicted KO win. But talking about the greatest ever British boxing upsets, as in an upset scored by a Brit……well, surely nothing can and ever will compare to the night when Randy Turpin upset THE greatest to ever do it, Sugar Ray Robinson. That fight, that saw Turpin take the world middleweight crown, still resonates deeply amongst older British fight fans.

But in this day, some 75 years ago, Sugar Ray restored the balance. He righted the wrong. The man born Walker Smith Jr. showed the world his greatness. Again.

The hastily arranged return fight between Turpin and Robinson saw Randy have to travel to the Polo Grounds in New York City, and this time, Turpin faced a far more determined, in fact, desperate, Sugar Ray. It was a fast start from Robinson this time. Hell-bent on regaining the title, Robinson had rested up after the loss to Turpin (he had “left his legs in Paris” prior to the July fight, Sugar Ray having fought and partied hard during his European tour), and he had trained hard this time.

23-year-old Turpin, an incredibly strong middleweight who also had a good chin and, it was fair to say, an ‘awkward style,’ took the challenger’s early heat and then came on strong as Robinson began to feel the pace. Robinson had built up a lead, but now Turpin was fighting his fight. Would there be a repeat of the first fight? Robinson instead showed his greatness.

Cut over the left eye in the first fight, Robinson felt the blood flow in round ten of the return, the cut having reopened. Sugar Ray knew it was now or never. Gambling, knowing he was on borrowed time, the 30-year-old let loose with all of his power. A heavy right stunned Turpin, who was trying his best to hold on. Then a massive right slammed into the defending champion’s head, and down he went. Turpin got up, but he was a wounded fighter. His legs weak and his survival instincts his sole remaining asset, Turpin was soon stuck on the ropes.

Robinson threw everything he had in an effort to close the show. The shots were unanswered, with Turpin swaying on the ropes, and referee Ruby Goldstein had no real choice other than to dive in and stop the fight. There were just eight seconds left in the round. Turpin cried premature stoppage, insisting he had been “rolling with the punches,” but he had not been throwing back. Who knows what might have happened had Goldstein given the dazed Turpin the benefit of the doubt and risked letting him try and see out those final eight seconds?

As it is, Sugar Ray, after over 130 pro fights, was king of the world once again. There would be no third fight. Tragically, Randy Turpin would (allegedly) take his own life by way of shooting himself, this in 1966. Robinson would go on to become a five-time middleweight champion.

Now, might Garcia and Benn give us something memorable, something to really talk about, in a few hours’ time? Let’s hope so. Whoever wins.

Share on Facebook

Post on X