If we accept Sugar Ray Robinson as the greatest Welterweight of all time (and he quite possibly is), is there a fighter alive, you would confidently back to come as close to beating Sugar Ray, as Marty Servo actually did. In their first fight, Servo lost by unanimous decision but only by 4 rounds to 3 on one judges scorecard. In the rematch, Servo lost by a split decision (meaning one judge thought he won) and actually won on the AP scorecard, so a few year earlier in the ND era, he would have one the championship match against Sugar Ray. Both versions of Ray Robinson were pretty much prime versions. So, if your life depended on it, which fighter would you back to take the place of Marty Servo in these two fights and come out with better results? or would you simply take Marty Servo and say that no one else could have done as well, meaning that technically speaking Marty might be the second best welterweight ever.
Jose Napoles is an interesting choice. Napoles was well beaten by Monzon, but at the higher weight, i dont really see much relevance in what was his only foray into the higher weight. His record was much better at welterweight, where his only two losses were due to cuts. Still, i am not sure i can see him beating Sugar Ray Robinson at the weight, certainly not with any degree of certainty. You certainly are brave to bet on Jose running Sugar Ray Robinson. How do you see him beating Sugar Ray Robinson? Ko or maybe just edging a close fight on points. I would have thought Ray was faster, hit harder and more technically sound than Jose. I would give him a slight edge in nearly every category Speed, Strength, Stamina, Technique, Height, Reach, Combination Punching etc.
Couple of things here old chap. First, no title ever changed hands on an ND/Newspaper decision so far as I am aware. That was often the specific point of fighting an ND. Second, a Newspaper decision wasn't rendered by one paper. What do the other newspaper accounts of this fight say? And all that there.
No fighter currently living, but if I had to back someone in history to do at least as well as Servo it would be Charlie Burley. (Though I would pick Robinson to win.)
If i m remembering this right Servo "retired" due to a nose injury (vacating the title as Robinson wins it vs Tommy Bell) only to fight again a few months later and ends up taking a beating from...Graziano? Seems like he got some bad managerial advice. Anyway could someone run Robinson close twice in what is perceived to be close to Robinson's prime? Same day weigh ins like Robinsons day are going to exclude a lot of current guys, unless you want to count 130-135lbers. Leonard, Hearns maybe, Curry at his best, maybe Emile Griffith.
Was SRR really prime by 1941/42? I think those fights with Servo, Zivic, Angott really helped him develop but I doubt he was prime at 141lbs. Also, the flipside to the argument is that Servo lost as wide as 8-2 and 9-1 respectively. As for the question, I think a few WWs could beat a 21/22 year old Robinson who's weighing in 141-144 lbs same day weigh in, but he mops the floor with them all at same stages of their careers
I’d favor SRR over anyone at 147. But … gun to my head I had to pick a guy to beat him I’d probably go Leonard. I’d give Hearns a chance too.
Sugar Ray Leonard would be the best bet. He had the combination of speed, power and ring IQ to give Robinson a great battle. I have thought about this subject quite a bit and of all boxers in any weight class who fought in different eras Robinson and Leonard would be the fight I would want to see. It would be a great fight and we would find out who was Sugar and who was saccharin.
