Robinson prime was never taped. The guy had same day weigh-ins, boxing boots that required rosin to hold him to the canvas. (anyone here even know what a rosin box is? ) The midget welters of today would get destroyed by the 5 foot 11 Sugar Ray. The guy gave La Motta 18lbs in there first fight.
I respect your opinion but I find it hard to read Spence wins a UD over Robinson. Robinson was the best ever he beat up LaMotta! I think Spence was neck and neck with Brook before his damaged eye gave in. Competetive fight. But when Brook fought Golovkin, is was brutalization and he couldn't phase Golovkin. Golovkin imo is comparable to LaMotta. But LAmotta vs robinson was nothing like brook vs golovkin. I think SRR is a level above Spence.
Only 1? I'd be very impressed with Spence's performance if he made a round close enough to given a case to win it against SRR
Robinson crushes everything from 147-160lbs today. You can talk about his "flaws" but good luck capitalizing on those perceived flaws. People don't realize that this guy had the athletics of Roy Jones. He packed stupendous power. There's nobody packing comparable heat today at Welter. Nobody. Utterly Ironcast chin. The pace he could push .....guys today aren't built like that.
Of course potentially many levels above spence and I rate spence at todays best and most powerful WW. However scientifically, Spences eye lids on average cover 85% of his eyeball even when fully awake and conscious. SRR would quickly close the remaining 15%
Dude had exceptional balance and coordination, reflexes and hand speed to die for and a ridiculous chin. His technique was like RJJ or SRL, it suited his athletic prowess. You can't just 'technique' your way to the top ffs. Natural ability, both mental and physical is 95+% of elite fighting.
The speed that SRR was able to generate in a double left hook was remarkable, especially when you consider the power that shot was able to generate. His style looks fine to me when you consider he fought off of athleticism as opposed to the more textbook style of a GGG. His feet were fast and his balance was exceptional. If you picked holes in his game, then you'd say perhaps defensively he could improve but he sure as Hell didn't have a bad defence at all. Terrific stamina, excellent heart and just all round brilliance. A lot of old time boxers do look trash. SRR isn't one of 'em
I think there are contrary opinions, and they're valid. If we look at HW. Larry Holmes, Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield skillwise were head and shoulders above any of the current HWs, and there's no doubt about it. Today's HWs are just bigger generally, but that's it. They can't do the same things that Mike or Evander could.
He wouldn't be half as great. If he had 150 fewer fights? Do you realize how much less experience that is? How much thinner his resume would be? It would probably look like the losers we have at welterweight who never fought anybody today and he'd have all of their flaws of inexperience and safety first mentality. The truth is none of these modern fighters need six months or twelve week camps to prepare for a fight. That is just something they do to promote fights and maximize profits. It's a business decision, not an athletic one. You don't need six months to recover and if you don't let yourself go to fat or do stupid amounts of weight cutting you don't need a twelve week camp to get down to fighting weight. Robinson took ten fights a year as a way of staying in shape. He never got ring rust. His tune ups were the two guys he fought last month, so he was always sharp as a tack. That not in shape argument is pure bull****. Who today his faster, stronger, or has better stamina than him? Nobody. Face it, nobody today can do what Emile Griffith or Henry Armstrong could either. They were physical freaks like Roy Jones Jr. Camps and rest time had almost nothing to do with it. Paulie Malinaggi and Keith Thurman couldn't hang with them if you gave them a ten year camp.
Some of the great boxing writers who saw everyone over decades Inc Leonard all said how special the guy was,speed and power in both hands is such a rare thing in any era imo.
Just watched Robinson there again, my god! Can someone please name middleweights today who are faster than he was? Bearing in mind he was an even better welterweight!
