When did Sugar Ray Robinson's decline start?

BBBBumped....

 

1952, after the Maxim loss.

 

Imo after he retired the first time, he was never the same.

He was capable of a few moments of magic but he wasn't the force he once was.

 

I agree. While he had moments of brilliance against the likes of Olson and Fullmer while regaining the middleweight title, he was never the dominant champion he was pre-Maxim.

 

Rather or not he was in his prime he was still good enough to beat the field as late as 1960. I'd be willing to ceed to 1959.

 

the thread question is about decline.

When did his skills start to decline.

 

before the first Turpin fight he was spotted in a pub drinking and playing cards.

 

SRR was still good enough ta have great performances at middleweight, but his real decline started after a disastrous (which left him broke) two-year shot headling a one-man song 'n dance review, with all the bells 'n whistles of Vegas.

Sugar was an ATG as a fighter, but Sweet 'n Low as an entertainer.

 

:roflYou just can't help it, can you?

 

A bit with the jump to middleweight ... larger after the post Maxim retirement .. those two years off took a toll ..

 

His decline started after his intial retirement and 2+ year layoff. When he cameback he was about 34 years old and fighting to make the $$ back he had lost through his fail buisnesses.

About 1955...He had fallen off just enough to everyone`s else level and he had some of his most memorable bouts.

 

Good point. Many thought he was "past it" when he met Gavilan for a second time in July of 1949. Robbi was about 29 years old at that point and he beat and young and hungry Gavilan who was somewhere around 22-23.

 

So I'm suposed to beleve that all of a suden in 1950 Robinson went from the most talented boxer of all time to a bum. Is that the point of the thread? I'm being serious. Because the video evidance that is avaible on this site called youtube, perhaps you herd of it would point to that not being true. Almost every thing we have of him is from after 1950.

 

But did any other fighter in history decline so majestically? As gracefully?

 

After his first retirement,post Joey 'There was no air-con in my corner either' Maxim fight.