All-time boxing greats: Top 5 best male boxers in history

4. Sugar Ray Robinson (174-19-6, 109 KOs)

Many people don’t know that legendary boxer Sugar Ray Robinson wasn’t Sugar Ray Robinson. His real name was Walker Smith Jr.

Young Walker Smith Jr. needed an amateur card for his first fight but didn’t have one. His trainer used the card of another kid named Ray Robinson. He continued to fight using Robinson’s card, and the name stuck.

As an amateur, Robinson fought in the lighter weight divisions until he grew into his 5-foot-11 frame. He even fought Willie Pep during his amateur days.

As a pro, Robinson is best known as a middleweight, but he won his first title as a welterweight, defeating Jimmy Doyle in 1947.

Robinson eventually made the transition to middleweight and won the title for the first time in 1951 by stopping Randolph Turpin in ten rounds. He lost it to Carmen Basilio in 1957 but regained it from Basilio in 1958 via split decision. It was The Ring Magazine’s Fight of the Year.

Robinson has some losses on his record. Several came towards the end of his career when he was far removed from his best day.s In his autobiography, Robinson said he always felt terrible for boxers who fought when they were past their best but was forced to do the same thing.

Robinson was plagued with money problems. Failed businesses, bad investments, and wreckless spending on material items and his famed entourage zapped his bank accountant.

Regardless of how his career ended, Robinson beat some of the best names in history and used precision skills and boxing techniques never seen before. He was a rare talent.