Randy Turpin vs. Sugar Ray Robinson I

Discussion in 'Classic Boxing Forum' started by William Walker, Jun 15, 2021.



  1. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Every once in a while a great fight will get lost amidst the controversy and upset that it produced. This is one of them.

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    1.Robinson did the customary jabbing. Turpin showed absolutely no caution, and was cautioned right away by the referee for kidney punching. Turpin was not especially effective as he was more aggressive. Turpin.
    2. A left hook snapped Ray's head back. Ray countered back quickly. Turpin.
    3. Ray started quickly, landing a good left hook and a good straight right. The commentator summed it up well: "A couple of good headaches in the making." ha ha, good one. The two fought an brisk and entertaining exchange afterwards. Later, a left hook rocked Ray into one of the corners. Both men were warned for rabbit punching. Turpin.
    4. Turpin's jab was improving as he stabbed Ray with it more and more as the fight wore on. The commentator had another good line here; he said that Turpin's jab was "like shoving a 2 x 4 out the window." Turpin.
    5. Turpin scored with a number of good hooks and jabs, especially the later. A HUGE left hook staggered Ray, and Turpin followed it up with a blistering barrage, and Ray clinched. Turpin DOMINATED Ray. Turpin.
    6. Turpin handed Ray quite a beating. Not a horrible one, but Turpin never let up on Ray. Turpin.
    7. "Robinson's punches look feeble against Turpin's smashing rights." said the announcer. I would have to agree at this point. Ray however would go on to have a good round here. While backing up he landed a counter left hook that hurt Turpin. And a left-right combo caused Turpin to slip before the bell sounded. Robinson.
    8. Ray knocked Turpin off balance with a couple of right uppercuts, and the two traded hard straight hands. Ray's plan was beginning to change. He had adopted a new plan of right-hooking to the body, therefore "eating up the clock". (I took these notes a few weeks ago, so I must confess I don't know what I meant by this last sentence) Robinson.
    9. A less decisive round either way. Even.
    10. There was a terrific exchange midway through the round. Turpin was starting to tire, but Ray won the exchange on very little superior reserve. Robinson.
    11. A left hook by Turpin really set Ray off, and Turpin scored with a lot of lefts and rights, and then the two exchanged brutal body blows. Ray was really going for the kill, but was unable to clinch it. Turpin is just such a slippery fellow. He either takes Ray's shots (which he does with great class) or he ducks under a punch, rather than blocking, parrying, or slipping or rolling it. This was the closest, most actively-fought round of the fight. Even.
    12. Turpin was putting his foot back onto the gas pedal once again. However, Ray was learning a thing or two while he had been losing earlier in the fight. In order to better deal with Turpin's unorthodox ducking tactics, Ray was now lowering himself to Turpin's level when Turpin did so. And it had fair success for Ray, who snapped Turpin's head back with straight right hand. Robinson.
    13. The announcer said of Turpin: "He looks like he's enjoying a nice summer afternoon on the porch." Turpin.
    14. Turpin disregarded Ray's shoulder feints, landing a booming right overhand. Ray found himself retreating in the final moments. Turpin.
    15. Mostly a lot of grappling. Robinson.

    Final score: 8-5-2 for Turpin.

    Turpin was one of the most unusual fighters I can recall to date, he had so many peculiarities:

    Rather than moving laterally like most fighters, he moved horizontally.

    He lunges in order to land blows, rather than positioning before throwing a punch.

    He would pull away from clinches, then jump right back into them, as if it were accidental almost and he forgot he wasn't supposed to pull out of them.

    He kept what I thought was an approximately 4-foot gap in between his feet in his natural stance.

    Because of his unorthodox ducking, he often looked throughout the fight as if he was staggered when he was really just changing/ adjusting his position.


    Since Turpin was so unusual strategically speaking, I am especially looking forward to people's comments here. I am anxious to know what you guys think of his performance in this fight.

    Verdict: A darn good fight actually. Not quite one of the best, but a very good one still. The fight was never wanting for action, and was a fascinating battle between two good stylists. As I said at the beginning of the post, the fact that Turpin was 10-1 underdog and beat the odds was such a big upset that I think that's what the fight has become singularly known for, but it is a good fight. You should see it.

    A couple of other comments I have is that the fight was closer than I expected. Ray really was the better man for the most part from round 8 on, but it was too late. Ray doesn't get the recognition he deserves for largely outbattling Turpin the latter half of this fight.

    Lastly, Ray was sorely beaten. Turpin beat him undeniably, and it was clear it wasn't luck. Turpin was a weird looking boxer and his fight plan here was made to fit right into all of Ray's weak spots. That's not luck, it's brains. So it only impresses me more that Ray said he had no alibis. Tremendous class had Ray.
     
  2. White Bomber

    White Bomber Boxing Addict Full Member

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    Robinson was on an exhibition tour in Europe, having several fights in a short time span.
    He was tired and probably also underestimated Turpin a bit.
    He KOd him in the rematch.
    With that being said, Turpin was a good boxer, but he ain't no Robinson.
     
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  3. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    Have to remember tho, In the rematch, Robbo was struggling against Turpin even then.
    I think it was Randy's style that really had Sugar flummoxed a lot of the time.
     
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  4. Richard M Murrieta

    Richard M Murrieta Obsessed with Boxing Full Member

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  5. thistle

    thistle Boxing Addict Full Member

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    that not exactly correct, I heard that most of my adult life, and then I san the fight,

    not only was SRR Winning, even the Commentator mentioned it rather 'matter of fact' like, in the in the 8th or 9th round... anyway I was shocked from the available footage, which was not the full rounds, but Robinson was an obvious clear winner.
     
  6. Fergy

    Fergy Walking Dead Full Member

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    Your probably correct, I know things can be seen differently as time passes. But I always heard and read that the earlier rounds belonged to Robbo, but he started slowing down by the 8, th and Turpin was the younger one stronger man and looked it.
    But it's all bye the bye, Robinson was a great champion and would probably always find a way to win.

    I've not actually seen the rematch in its whole, so might be worth a viewing again.
     
  7. Jason Thomas

    Jason Thomas Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I saw it basically the way you did. My score was 9-4-2. As you did, I had Turpin taking the first six rounds with Robinson adjusting in the 7th. From then on it was close with Robinson having on my card a slight edge but certainly no where near enough to overcome Turpin's big lead.

    Three things really stood out with Turpin. He had a great left jab and out-jabbed Robinson. The deep bob caused Ray to miss over the top often. And Turpin didn't plod forward through Ray's firing range like LaMotta did. He was either outside behind his jab, or coming in quick. When inside he didn't exchange but clinched. I wondered after the LaMotta film what would happen if an opponent could negate Ray's jab. We found out.

    Starting with the 7th, Robinson adjusted, avoiding a jabbing contest and going to the body when Turpin came in. Turpin also seemed to jab less over the second half of the fight. He was still effective when he did. The announcer didn't comment on it, but I thought Robinson in the second half did a much better job of tying up Turpin's right in the clinches.

    "all of Ray's weak spots"

    Could you elaborate on what these weak spots are? I would be interested. I don't see Ray having any obvious weak spots.

    I think in this fight he was fighting a guy with a style which took a while to adjust to. I don't know if there was much film of Turpin to study. There was plenty of Robinson for Turpin to analyze.

    This was a very interesting fight because of the stylistic contrasts and in ring strategy.
     
  8. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Like I said, I wrote this several weeks ago, so I don't remember the weak spots! :lol:
     
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  9. ETM

    ETM I thought I did enough to win. Full Member

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    Turpin was very quick handed and his upper body strength was uncommon. Combined with his awkwardness that was a tough challenge to overcome for a flat Robinson. Randy had a whole country behind and was sky-high emotionally.

    Randy broke Ray's timing and rhythm with his dipping low and the power jab didn't help either.

    Sugar Ray ahead of his time in so many ways, studied the film of the fight, made adjustments. Ray knew going into the rematch that he could fient Turpin to get him to pull his head up. He kept that move in the bank until he needed it. Randy thought Robinson was going to drop another wicked right hand into his body as he had been doing all nite. Instead Sugar Ray Unleashed an overhand right to Turpin's exposed chin.

    Legendary stuff.
     
  10. Jason Thomas

    Jason Thomas Boxing Addict Full Member

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    I see you have a future in politics.
     
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  11. robert ungurean

    robert ungurean Богдан Philadelphia Full Member

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    Turpin was an animal and I mean that as a compliment
     
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  12. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Totally agreed! Wasted potential Turpin was. Turned out just to be another Leon Spinks.
     
  13. ETM

    ETM I thought I did enough to win. Full Member

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    He was real good. Sort of like Robinson's Ken Norton except Sugar Ray didn't leave things in the hands of the judges.
     
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  14. William Walker

    William Walker Boxing Junkie Full Member

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    Yes, certainly correct. Ali at his best could defeat Norton only by a hair. Buy you are right. Turpin''s first fight against Robinson is a complete slap in the face to orthodox boxing.