Did Ray Robinson cherry pick Joey Maxim?

lol Not only “more” but harder.

 

No. For a former welterweight to take on ANY light heavyweight is a big risk. And after the experience he had nearly dying from heat prostration it was understandable that he didn’t want to attempt it again and against an even more formidable champion. This is not a cherry pick or a duck.

 

If I remember correctly that was the plan if Ray beat Maxim, but after he lost I think he just retired.

 

[QUOTE=
I read Sugar Ray Robinson priced himself out of fighting Archie Moore I think he’d have taken the fight for a good enough purse but would’ve lost.[/

This is my understanding as well from my reading of magazines from that era.

 

How does one cherry pick the actual champion of the division directly above their's?

 

Joey Maxim defeated Floyd Patterson on points on June 7 1954.

 

No. For the right purse Robinson would've fought anybody. That said Moore was heavily in debt after getting the title from Maxim, so the fight didn't make sense for Moore, since Robinson would've taken too much of a slice.

 

"Ray had probably run out of challenges--at least lucrative ones--at 160"

I don't think either is true. Turpin was still out there for a rubber match and there was plenty of talk about such a match and that it might be an even bigger gate than the rematch at the Polo Grounds. In the summer of 1952 Turpin and Robinson were one and one, having split two fights.. I believe that Robinson still had unfinished business with Turpin.

 

Ray had dinner with Moore to discuss a possible fight but Moore said," Ray wanted all the money,"so it never happened.

 

Hi Fergy.
When you say " backfired " on him, in one sense that is correct because Maxim won the fight, but anything I have read over the years on this particular fight, seems to indicate Robinson was in front, and in command, up until the time he couldn't carry on, as I am sure a knowledgeable and learned poster like yourself will know, it was more to do with the extreme heat and less to do with Maxim being the better fighter, of course Maxim was the bigger man, and must have used his weight and strength to bully Ray, but the general census was the heat was a big factor in the win for Joey, so maybe we can suppose if the fight had been in the autumn or winter , Robinson would have outpointed the slower Maxim, seems like a fair assessment to me ? .
Just saying....
stay safe buddy, chat soon.

 

Hi Mike hope your well.
Totally agree there. If the heat has not been an issue then Robinson s got it in the bag for sure.
It really didn't work out for that reason alone imo, he came very close to becoming the first middle to win the light heavy.