How many people here have actually seen Sugar Ray Robinson's fights?

Ive seen his second fight with Turpin and one of his fights with Lamotta. Never understood his form of defense, he seemed to rely mainly on footwork and clinching. If someone can point out a fight where this wasn't the case, it would be welcome

 

A few grainy videos, not enough to have an opinion.

 

I've seen about a dozen of his fights. There's hardly any film of his time at 147 but having seen him at 160, I'm more than happy to say he's the best ever.

Obviously, I'm taking into account what was written about him and there's some extrapolating also "if he's that good at 160, imagine how good he was at 147" etc. The film I've seen on him seems to confirm that he was just as good as everyone says.

 

Got about 10 of his fights on a DVD. He was an exceptional talent and well ahead of his time. Fighters just ddn't fight like that back then and he was known to have more than one fight a night let alone 3-4 a year like todays standards.
He is rated the greatest not because he would beat all of todays fighters but because he dominated his division for a long long time and had hand speed, fluidity and footwork that had never been seen before

 

Didn't vote in the poll but I have seen a few of his fights on DVD. (bout 6) but I think he was one of the greatest when you take into account what litttle I've seen added in with the fact that so many unbiased people say he is the greatest I think we have to put him up there.

 

Same thing happens in football with Pele, people usually declare someone the goat based on historical opinion. Non boxing fans only really know ali and tyson and will say ali is the best boxer ever. Boxing fans will say srr.

 

There's really no an excuse not to watch one the 4 best fighters ever to have graced the sport if you take an interest in the greats of boxing. There's footage on Youtube enough of him against LaMotta, Basilio, Graziano courtesy of our friend TheGreatA over on the Classic, Charley Fusari, Turpin, Moyer, Fulmer, Olson, Maxim, Bobby Dykes, probably others, there's even footage of a prime 147 Ray against Bernard Docusen.

 

bretchko evidently hasn't.

 

I have his DVD life story. One of if not the best.

 

Btw, I voted 'no, he isn't the greatest' because I personally have him at #3. I would have no problems ranking him #1 or seeing him at #1 on anybody elses list. Robinson, Armstrong, Greb, Langford; it's all subjective, these are the 4 guys who stake a claim in my opinion and any of those 4 as your #1 is more than alright with me.

 

seen a few, but i personally hate to compare old athlete's to todays

watch a basketball game from the 70s, damn they look slow and robotic

 

That's so true, boxing is an evolving sport and with different training and different nutritional plans it's hard to compare other eras in a true objective fashion.

 

Who is your number 1, mate?

 

I've watched all available footage of his fights.
Guys like SRR would wipe the floor with todays fighters.
Why?
For making $2M/fight, Robinson had the kind of love for the sport to fight 2-3 fights per night, 15 rds each.
In fact, I think even a Jake LaMotta would wreck Havoc on todays' soft and mushy talent.

Sugar Ray Robinson was truly the greatest, not only for his exceptional boxing skills, but also his heart, his love of the sport, and his fan friendly and engaging personality.