Sugar Ray Robinson died in Culver City, California, on April 12, 1989. Biography.com reports that he battled Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes in his final years, but the sources available do not establish an immediate cause of death. His legacy is clearer: Robinson became world welterweight champion, won the middleweight title five times, and built a record against a remarkable range of opponents.
What is known about Sugar Ray Robinson’s death?
Robinson died in Culver City, California, on April 12, 1989, according to a U.S. House resolution and Biography.com. Biography.com says he battled Alzheimer’s disease and diabetes in his final years. Neither source identifies an immediate cause of death, so it would be inaccurate to say that either illness directly caused it. The resolution also gives an age that conflicts with other biographical accounts; its age figure should not be treated as settled.
Who was Sugar Ray Robinson?
Robinson was born Walker Smith Jr. and became one of boxing’s defining champions. He is distinct from Jackie Robinson, the baseball player, and Sugar Ray Leonard, the later boxing champion. The International Boxing Hall of Fame says a newspaper reporter called him “sweet as sugar,” giving rise to his nickname, though its profile does not name the reporter.
What made Robinson’s boxing career exceptional?
Championships across two divisions
The International Boxing Hall of Fame credits Robinson with holding the world welterweight title and winning the middleweight title five times. The Hall lists his professional career endpoints as turning pro in 1940 and retiring in 1965.
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A long record against elite opponents
The Hall’s profile lists Robinson’s record as 175 wins, 19 losses, six draws and two no-contests in 202 bouts, including 106 knockouts. Those figures are the Hall’s account; boxing records can differ by source, so they should not be treated as a universally reconciled tally.
His opponents included Henry Armstrong, Kid Gavilan, Carmen Basilio, Jake LaMotta, Rocky Graziano, Gene Fullmer and Fritzie Zivic, all named by the Hall among the Hall of Famers he defeated. Against LaMotta, Robinson won five of six meetings. In their final bout in 1951, he stopped LaMotta in the 13th round.
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Why is Robinson considered one of boxing’s greatest?
The case rests on more than a nickname or a single celebrated fight: Robinson’s titles at welterweight and middleweight, the breadth of his career, his many knockouts and his victories over notable opponents together explain why his reputation endured. The International Boxing Hall of Fame says he “is considered by many to be the best fighter in history, pound-for-pound.” That is the Hall’s attributed judgment, not an objective ranking or a measured statistic.
Any comparison with another boxer depends on the criteria. Championship achievements across divisions, opposition, career length and the definitions behind historical records can all matter. The sources cited here do not provide a comprehensive, like-for-like dataset for comparing Robinson with modern fighters, so a single numerical verdict would overstate what they establish.
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A 2001 U.S. House resolution recognized Robinson’s dedication to boxing and commitment to young people. It refers to the Sugar Ray Robinson Youth Foundation as established in 1969, but the resolution alone does not establish further details about the organization. Its recognition adds a public-service dimension to his legacy without replacing the evidence of his sporting achievements.
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