Sugar Ray Robinson vs Gene Fullmer II 1.5.1957 - NBA World Middleweight Championship

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7 жыл бұрын

Gene Fullmer had decisively beaten Sugar Ray Robinson earlier in the year to win the World Middleweight Championship. But Robinson, a now 17 year veteran, still had plenty of gas left in the tank as he was about to prove in the rematch. More info below...
Gene Fullmer was a 6 year pro with the nickname, Cyclone. He got his nickname from being a rugged all action fighter, who at times looked incredibly clumsy, but once on the inside of an opponents guard he could do whatever he wanted by simply pummeling away. Fullmer was undefeated in his first 29 fights and had beaten some decent opponents in the likes of future World Champion Paul Pender and former German Middleweight Champion Peter Mueller but no stand out names of the division. In 1955 Fullmer lost his first fight, a decision to Gil Turner. Fullmer would win the rematch 2 months later and went on to beat USA Minnesota State Middleweight title holder Del Flanagan and another local fighter before losing back to back decisions to Bobby Boyd and former Argentina Middleweight Champion Eduardo Lausse. Fullmer would bounce back in 1956 with his most impressive wins to date earning a hard fought split decision win against the tough Rocky Castellani, winning a rubber match with Gil Turner, earning a unanimous decision over former Sugar Ray Robinson victor Ralph "Tiger" Jones and beating European Middleweight Champion Charles Humez. In 1957 Fullmer got his shot at the World Middleweight title held by Sugar Ray Robinson and pulled off the minor upset, winning a 15 round unanimous decision. It was only Robinson's 5th loss in 146 fights. Fullmer would have 2 easy non-title defense wins against young Canadian fighter Wilf Greaves and veteran Ernie Durando before the scheduled rematch with Robinson. His record heading in to the fight was 40-3.
Sugar ray Robinson was already a living legend at this point in his career. Having turned pro in 1940 he was a former undefeated World Welterweight Champion and a 3 x World Middleweight Champion. His series of fights with Jake LaMotta became one of the greatest rivalry's in the sport with Sugar Ray prevailing 5-1 over 6 fights. In 1952 Sugar Ray, while still the reigning Middleweight champion, challenged for the World Light Heavyweight title against Joey Maxim but retired on his stool after 13 rounds due to heat exhaustion. Sugar Ray initially retired following the loss after 12 years in the ring however much to every bodies surprise he returned in 1955. Although he didn't have the best start to his second ring career and was noticably slower than he once was, Robinson slowly increased the level of his opposition and improved enough that before the year was out he had won the World Middleweight title for a third time by stopping old foe Bobo Olson. His record heading in against Fullmer was a near unbelievable 139-5-2.
The fight would be over much quicker than their first encounter and the end seemingly came out of nowhere. Fullmer was ahead in a close fight when Robinson landed a picture perfect, flush left hook to the jaw that dropped Fullmer to the canvas leaving him floundering around unable to get up. The punch was so fast and unexpected you would have blinked and missed it. It was one of the best single punches Robinson had ever landed in his whole career.
Both Fullmer and Robinson were far from done with their in-ring careers. Fullmer would win the World Middleweight title again in 1959, holding it for 2 years before it became vacated in 1962 when the NBA became the WBA. Fullmer ended his career in a 3 fight series against Dick Tiger, losing 2 and drawing 1, before retiring in 1963 with a 55-6-3 record. Robinson kept boxing for another 8 years retiring in 1965 with a 173-19-6 record although the last 5 years of his career were very hit and miss losing fights against men he would of dominated 10 years earlier...

Пікірлер: 8

@JB-zc2zq Жыл бұрын

Perfect left hook by Mr. Robinson, nothing but respect for both of those legends of the sport.

@rickrick5041 Жыл бұрын

What a fight!

@ronaldworthy157 2 жыл бұрын

Those two right hands to the body set up the lead left hook nicely . Fulmer thinking that a third right hand was coming and didn't see the left hook coming .

@dennyhenry9416 2 жыл бұрын

The True King Of Kings of All Boxers, Regardless Of Weight Divisions..this BROTHER Had The Fight Game Down On Every Level..RIP King..Say Hey To Your Protege,, And Equal King Muhammad Ali...