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Sugar Ray Robinson
Walker Smith Jr., better known as Sugar Ray Robinson, was an American professional boxer who competed from 1940 to 1965. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990. He is often regarded as the greatest boxer of all time, pound-for-pound, and is ranked as such by BoxRec as of May 2026.
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entertainment · American boxer (1921–1989) · boxer · film actor · also Sugar Ray Robinson, Walker Smith Jr, Robinson
Born 3 May 1921 · Died 12 April 1989 · Q316706
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2026· 1 entry
2006· 1 entry
Was featured on a commemorative stamp by the United States Postal Service
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2003· 1 entry
The Ring ranked him number 11 in the list of all-time greatest punchers
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2002· 1 entry
Robinson was also ranked number one on The Ring magazine's list of "80 Best Fighters of the Last 80 Years"
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1997· 1 entry
The Ring ranked him as the best pound-for-pound fighter in history, and in 1999 he was named "welterweight of the century", "middleweight of the century", and overall "fighter of the century" by the Associated Press
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1990· 1 entry
Awarded International Boxing Hall of Fame (1990).
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1989· 2 entries
Died 1989-04-12.
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“Rhythm is everything in boxing. Every move you make starts with your heart, and that's in rhythm or you're in trouble.”
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1969· 1 entry
Founded the Sugar Ray Robinson Youth Foundation for the inner-city Los Angeles area
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1967· 1 entry
Two years after he retired and the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1990
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1965· 4 entries
Robinson announced his retirement from boxing, saying: "I hate to go too long campaigning for another chance
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Reported net worth: $500,000.0 (as of 1965).
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Robinson married Millie Wiggins Bruce and the couple settled in Los Angeles
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“I hate to go too long campaigning for another chance.”
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1963· 1 entry
Jet reported that the court had ruled in Robinson's favor
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1962· 2 entries
Before winning six consecutive fights against mostly lesser opposition
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In an effort to persuade Robinson to return to Paris—where he was still a national hero—the French promised to bring over his masseur, his hairdresser, a man who would whistle while he trained, and his trademark Cadillac
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1961· 1 entry
Robinson and Fullmer fought for a fourth time, with Fullmer retaining the WBA middleweight title by a unanimous decision
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1959· 1 entry
In December 1959, Barbara Johnson (aka Barbara Trevigne) of South Ozone Park, a singer and dancer, brought a paternity suit in New York against the former champ, claiming Sugar Ray Robinson was the father of her son Paul born in 1953.
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1958· 3 entries
Awarded The Ring World Middleweight Champion (1958).
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Awarded WBA World Middleweight Champion (1958).
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To regain the middleweight championship)
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1957· 3 entries
Awarded WBA World Middleweight Champion (1957).
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Awarded The Ring World Middleweight Champion (1957).
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Robinson lost his title to Gene Fullmer
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1956· 1 entry
And Robinson closed the four-fight series with a fourth-round knockout
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1955· 5 entries
Awarded WBA World Middleweight Champion (1955).
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Awarded The Ring World Middleweight Champion (1955).
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Before losing a decision to Ralph 'Tiger' Jones
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Robinson expected to be named fighter of the year
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Robinson returned to the ring
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1952· 3 entries
After the Maxim bout, Robinson gave up his title and retired with a record of 131–3–1–1
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Only to come back two-and-a-half years later and regain the middleweight title in 1955
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Fought a rematch with Olson, winning by a decision
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1951· 6 entries
Awarded WBA World Middleweight Champion (1951).
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Awarded The Ring World Middleweight Champion (1951).
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Awarded The Ring magazine Fighter of the Year (1951).
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Robinson and LaMotta met for the sixth time
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"Robinson's repertoire, thrown with equal speed and power by either hand, includes every standard punch from a bolo to a hook—and a few he makes up on the spur of the moment
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Robinson was named Ring Magazine's "Fighter of the Year" for the second time
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1950· 3 entries
Awarded Sugar Ray Robinson Award (1950).
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Robinson fought George Costner, who had also taken to calling himself "Sugar" and stated in the weeks leading up to the fight that he was the rightful possessor of the name
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Robinson defeated Robert Villemain
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1949· 3 entries
And taking his championship belt (Cerdan died in a plane crash en route to a rematch with LaMotta)
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Boxed 16 times, but again only defended his title once
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They had one son, Ray Robinson Jr. (born 1949) before their acrimonious divorce in 1962.
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1948· 1 entry
Robinson fought five times, but only one bout was a title defense
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1947· 1 entry
Robinson dominated Doyle and scored a decisive knockout in the eighth round that knocked Doyle unconscious and resulted in Doyle's death later that night
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1946· 2 entries
Awarded WBA World Welterweight Champion (1946).
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Awarded The Ring World Welterweight Champion (1946).
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1943· 1 entry
Robinson was inducted into the United States Army, where he was again referred to as Walker Smith
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1942· 2 entries
Awarded The Ring magazine Fighter of the Year (1942).
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Then nine years and over 90 fights later, for his efforts in 1951
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1941· 1 entry
Defeated world champion Sammy Angott, future champion Marty Servo, and former champion Fritzie Zivic
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1940· 2 entries
Winning by a second-round stoppage over Joe Echevarria
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At the age of 19 and by 1951 had a professional record of 129–1–2 with 85 knockouts
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1939· 1 entry
(defeating Louis Valentine on points in 3 rounds), and the New York Golden Gloves lightweight championship in 1940 (defeating Andy Nonella by KO in 2)
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1921· 1 entry
Born 1921-05-03.
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