Sugar Ray Robinson was born on February 20, 1921 in Robbins, Pennsylvania. He was the second of eight children to parents of Italian descent. Robinson's father was a boxer who didn't want his son to follow in his footsteps and thought that boxing would be too tough on the young Robinson. His mother wanted her son to become a priest or a teacher
He attended public school and then Robbins High School where he played football and boxed for the school's boxing team. Robinson attended Temple University in Philadelphia but dropped out to fight professionally. Robinson began his professional career in 1939 when he fought Jimmy Doyle in Atlantic City, New Jersey. After winning the fight, he caught pneumonia and was forced to retire for nearly two years.
During this time period, Robinson worked as a longshoreman and performed various odd jobs such as driving a bus and working at a gas station. In 1943, Robinson fought his first real world bout in Chicago in which he lost in front of 14,000 fans to Jack Britton by decision after 12 rounds. Robinson would lose another three fights to reigning World Heavyweight Champion Billy Conn, Emile Griffith and Ezzard Charles before finally getting his shot at the title in 1947 against Light Heavyweight Champion Joey Maxim when he knocked him out in round one at Madison Square Garden with a right hook to the chin. Robinson became World Heavyweight Champion on July 25, 1949 when he defeated Max Schmeling by tenth round TKO to win the title held by Rocky Marciano since 1936.
Robinson made history again four months later on November 7, 1949 when he beat Jersey Joe Walcott by 10th round TKO at Yankee Stadium for the undisputed World Championship of Boxing after relinquishing his World Heavyweight Championship after Charlie Chaplin died from cancer on August 14, 1949. In 1950, Robinson defeated Ezzard Charles via seventh round TKO for the World Middleweight Championship held by Rocky Marciano since 1937. In 1951, he won the World Welterweight Championship from Sugar Ramos via seventh round TKO at Yankee Stadium after 11 years away from boxing due to military service during World War II and because of an injury sustained while training for a fight against Walcott in 1950. In 1952, he lost both of his titles when he lost a 15-round split decision against Roberto Duran for the World Light Welterweight Championship held by Barney Ross since 1941 and for the vacant World Middleweight Championship held by Sugar Ray Leonard since 1951 following Leonard's
Rhythm is everything in boxing. Every move you make starts with your heart, and that’s in rhythm or you’re in trouble. Your rhythm should set the pace of the fight. If it does, then you penetrate your opponent’s rhythm. You make him fight your fight, and that’s what boxing is all about.Sugar Ray Robinson
You always say 'I'll quit when I start to slide', and then one morning you wake up and realize you've done slid.Sugar Ray Robinson
