Why is Sugar Ray Robinson considered the greatest boxer of all time?

Robinson is universally known as P4P The Greatest of all time. Since 1998 onwards and the invention of the worldwide web (WWW), boxing forums like this have sprung up, and Harry Greb has come to the fore. No fighting footage of any kind has ever been discovered of Greb in action, which in itself tells one how much of a myth, it is that he has been elevated to such greatness.

 

The boxing fan has had access to Harry's stuff ever since WWW which has reduced the information barrier. Being the greatest boxer of all time doesn't necessarily have to mean you're the best ever. I for one expect the steroid era to take the old timers apart. However, the old timers careers are the greatest ones.

If you look at his resume, the conditions he fought in as well, he has got to be the GOAT IMO.

 

When you have to make a list like that you answer your own question.

 

I rank Robinson the best because he was the most complete boxer of all time.

He could out slick the speedsters, outjab the boxers and out punch the brawlers. He is incredible to watch.

There is no man in the history of sport who, weighing 160 pound or less come fight night, I would favour to beat him. None.

Greb is unranked by me because I've never seen him fight and I rank purely on the eye test. My problem with relying on newspaper writeups is they can make any boxer sound like superman. I know his resume is proven but until I see him fight I can't and won't rank him.

 

I think Hearns would be hell for him.

Robinson relied a lot on his reach and height advantage by leaning back to defend from punches.
And when he didn't rely on leaning he relied on his offense being his primary defence

He's not going to outjab Hearns and he will be caught by that right.

His defence won't help him here.
Hearns will be able to get his shots off before Robinson can.

Tommy has worse stamina and chin though which limits his chances but I think the fight would be an uphill battle for Sugar.

Higher weights would favour Hearns more.
At 175 I just don't see Hearns losing to Robinson.

 

Hearn would be an uphill battle for anyone but eventually Sugar would get through to him and stop him.

At 175 is a difficult comparison but what's more impressive, shutting out Maxim over 12 rounds before collapsing or edging out Hill over 12 rounds before winning. I give Hearn the edge in that comparison but as I said, 160 or under, no one is favoured against him by me.

 

Maxim did fight with the 15 rounds in mind and never looked desperate just being content on the backfoot mostly (like he always was).

And Sugar had to completely exhaust himself to win those rounds while Maxim had plenty of reserves to go all out in the final 2, had Robinson survived it.

Hearns didn't have to exhaust himself to win those rounds and I don't feel like he *just* edged it.
The official scorecards were imo generous to Hill.

 

Tyson never said that seriously, he knowstge history of boxing.Floyd and RJ may be so arrogant to really believe that

 

Well he didn't have to completely exhaust himself. That was an oversight on his part, ultimately it cost him. Whilst Maxim looked content on the back foot he never looked close to winning until Robinson retired.

Would be interesting to see it fought again though.

Hearns clearly won and theres no argument against that. But a lot of the rounds were close tactical affairs.

 

"IMO" you ended your above reply. No problem with having your own opinions, but universal opinion among boxing historians is that Robinson is top dog.

 

He isn't the greatest because of who he fought or his resume, he is the greatest because of his mastery over the art of boxing. SRR had it all; he could box, brawl, counterpunch, he had speed, power, stamina, great ring iq. He could even knock guys out while moving backwards. He had everything. Had he won the light heavyweight title he would have gone up to heavyweight probably but I don't think he would have lasted very long against Marciano.

 

His record was fraudulent. Lots of wins over tomato cans and gift decisions. A lot of his KOs were against has-beens.

 

Harry Greb's official record is 107-8-3
He fought 179 'no decision' bouts to the final bell.

 

Yes.