Robinson: Modern Times

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Worldwide Ratings

For Period Beginning October, 1999


WBC
Weight limit: 147 pounds

C. RAY ROBINSON (USA)
1. VERNON FORREST (USA)
2. IKE QUARTEY (GHA)
3. NICHOLAS CERVERA (COL)
4. HECTOR CAMACHO JR (USA)
5. KOFI JANTUAH (GHA)


WBA
Weight limit: 147 pounds

C. RAY ROBINSON (USA)
1. MICHEL TRABANT (GER)
2. VERNON FORREST (USA)
3. IKE QUARTEY (GHA)
4. OBA CARR (USA)
5. CARLOS BALDOMIR (ARG)


IBF
Weight limit: 147 pounds

C. VACANT
1. RAY ROBINSON (USA)
2. SHANE MOSLEY (USA)
3. MICHAEL COVINGTON (USA)
4. VERNON FORREST (USA)
5. IKE QUARTEY (GHA)

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Robinson's Vital Statistics




Age: 24
Nickname: Sugar
Height: 5ft 11in
Reach: 72½ ins

Record: 86-0
Knockouts: 81
Rounds boxed: 374

World title fights: 29

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Hopkins Not Impressed




Since reclaiming his IBF middleweight title Bernard Hopkins has been very vocal about previous opponent Sugar Ray Robinson.

Seemingly harbouring thoughts of a rematch he has been happy to talk all things Sugar Ray, the latest is on his move up into the 154-pound division.

"You have to see what's coming... and David Reid can't.

I think Robinson will target his eye, it's so, so obvious."

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Forrest Excitement Builds




The excitement for the upcoming welterweight title fight between Sugar Ray Robinson and Vernon Forrest is quickly building into a highly anticipated showdown between the standout champion and a worthy challenger.

Forrest who the bookies have at 11-1 has told the press he cannot wait to get in the ring.

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Gainford Expects War




Sugar Ray Robinson's long time trainer George Gainford predicts that the pound-for-pound king will have to go to war with his fellow Olympian Vernon Forrest at the MGM Grand on October 23rd.

Having given his charge a few weeks vacation prior to starting camp Gainford said he felt certain that Robinson would "be in great shape and make a fine showing."

Gainford spoke admiringly of Forrest's skills and said he'd told Robinson he was in against a smart and dangerous fighter.

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Robinson's Crown Rests Easy




Sugar Ray Robinson established himself as the best welterweight in the world again last night as he stopped Vernon Forrest after ten-rounds of total dominance.

Forrest failed to provide Robinson with the stiff competition that led some going into the bout to believe that he may of pulled off an upset.

Battered over the opening three-minutes Forrest never got the opportunity to make a contest of it.

To his credit, Forrest did what he could, fighting gamely for as long as he could take the punishment Robinson was dishing out.

The challenger was dropped in the fourth from a bolo punch that almost kept him there, saved by the bell once on his feet, he was given a brief respite as Robinson decided not to go straight after him in the next round.

A bodyshot in the eighth forced Forrest to take a knee to escape further blows and get a breather.

Having failed to drop a single round Robinson had built an insurmountable lead on the cards and Forrest if he had any desire left to win needed to knockout the champion.

Forrest showed his heart in round nine as he was on his feet ready to go before the bell sounded. He pressed forward only to be immediately backed-up with a perfect left to the ribs that brought out a pained grimace.

Robinson trapped Forrest on the ropes and blitzed his wounded prey with ten punches to the head and body. Forrest lurched forward and was able to grab the champion before he could get himself away.

Like many before him, Forrest had run out of ideas and was staring defeat in the face.

More conservative in the tenth Forrest was felled by a right hand for three before he collapsed to the canvas, out cold from Robinson's left hook.

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World Boxing Association Welterweight Title (14th defense by Robinson)
World Boxing Council Welterweight Title (11th defense by Robinson)


Robinson landed 346 of 922 punches (38%) and Forrest connected on 106 of 271 (39%).

[kenyan_cheena]

Unstoppable. 100-0 looks likely.

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Robinson Cancels Out Tyson




Mike Tyson once again brought little to the ring other than his name, his inability to box clean and disappointment.

Deducted two points for a foul in the opening round, his opponent Orlin Norris refused to leave his corner at the start of the second round claiming that he injured his knee on the illegal knockdown.

As another disqualification loomed, the ring was filled with uniformed police officers to ensure against any potential outbreak of violence.

A long time after the "fight" had ended Jimmy Lennon announced that the Nevada Commission had ruled that the fight was a "no contest" due to an "accidental foul."

Luckily for those in attendance the Mike Tyson sideshow was just that, a sideshow, soon forgotten about once the sport's premier fighter made his walk into the ring and gave a performance that reflected their expectations.

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Originally Posted by kenyan_cheena

Unstoppable. 100-0 looks likely.

I've got to agree. Unless he really jumps up (which is too early in his career) I can't see him losing.

At 87-0, I think his goal would be to get to 100-0. Only 13 more fights.

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Reid's Chance Of Greatness




Having won the WBA light middleweight title in his 12th fight and already defending it twice before landing his blockbuster bout with Sugar Ray Robinson, Olympic gold medallist David Reid has accomplished more than most other fighters do in their entire careers in a short space of time.

With the spotlight now firmly on him, his promoter is confident that he will take his chance of greatness that comes with the Sugar Ray Robinson fight.

His life-long trainer, Al Mitchell predicts, "In a year or two, if Dave does what I know he can, he'll be ready for delivery to the International Boxing Hall of Fame."

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Robinson's Cuba Bout




Welterweight champion Sugar Ray Robinson has announced he is to fight an exhibition with sparring partner Anthony Jones in Guantanamo, Cuba.

Scheduled to round-off the Playa Giron Tournament, the eight-rounder will take place January 30th, one day after the final contests of the national championships.

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Robinson & Reid Ready




Sugar Ray Robinson, 87-0 with 82 knockouts is the most gifted and destructive boxer of his generation, despite what Roy Jones Jr. fans think.

David Reid, 14-0 with 7 knockouts is still out to prove that he belongs at the top table of the sport, despite possessing the WBA title and a Olympic gold medal.

Reid has not faced anyone who comes close to the level of Robinson, while the pound-for-pound king has soundly beaten a who's who of great champions and solid contenders.

Most people going into this contest figure if Bernard Hopkins, the 160-pound ruler couldn't stop Robinson, what chance has Reid got. Well very shortly we will find out.

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Trinidad - De La Hoya Signed




WBC light middleweight champion Oscar De La Hoya versus Felix Trinidad Jr has been signed for March 18 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

De La Hoya who defeated Javier Castillejo to claim the belt will put it on the line against top pound-for-pound fighter Trinidad in what his promoter Bob Arum hopes will bring him "big-fight redemption" with the general public.

"The Robinson fight was unfortunate... but it happens. Give the kid a break. He'll prove himself by beating the guy Robinson won't fight."

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Robinson Ends Reid's Reign




Sometimes statistics can't tell the whole story, but when one fighter lands half of the punches they throw (49%), scores 8 knockdowns and at the time of the stoppage is up 12/13 points after only 8 rounds - well they do paint a pretty vivid picture.

Last night David Reid went to finishing school and he came up short. Al Miller, his trainer said the day before the fight that Reid's reaction to the event would decide the fight. "The first couple of rounds are crucial. Dave can't get star-struck, we need those rounds."

15 seconds into the fight Robinson went to the body with a left and followed it with one up-top. The speed and power caught Reid by surprise and his legs quivered. With hindsight, it was this moment, so early in the fight that is now pinpointed as the moment the fight was won.

Reid survived the round, but backtracked all the way with his hands held up high, no concerns of attacking and unashamedly holding at every opportunity.

It was bravery that sustained Reid for the so long after the result had become a formality. He failed to land anything of note on Robinson, who did not seem threatened as he continued to stay within range and apply pressure.

Referee Steve Smoger, usually so solid, was looked at the longer the fight went on as he never seemed to once look at Reid and give thought to stopping the action despite the huge disparity between the contestants.

Without mercy, Robinson continued to throw every punch with bad intentions, staggering the champion in each round and dropping him in steady intervals; 2nd, 5th, twice in the 7th and three times in the 9th.

The evening ended with a five-punch body-to-head combination that put Reid onto his knees where he found he no longer had it in him to get up and just survive.


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World Boxing Association Light Middleweight Title (3rd defense by Reid)


Robinson landed 322 of 654 punches (49%) and Reid connected on 82 of 328 (25%).

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Mosley Beats Covington, Claims Title




In his second fight at the 147-pound limit Sugar Shane Mosley claimed the IBF title as his own after six fairly comfortable rounds.

The pressure was on "the other Sugar" to put on some form of boxing clinic against his lesser known opponent and except for a hard-fought 4th round which Covington edged, Mosley raised to the occasion.

A big positive for both fighters was that the action never slowed and the crowd were entertained the entire duration of the contest.

Mosley who first defense is stipulated to be against Sugar Ray Robinson said he hopes the fight comes off next year.

"I want the big fights, but I don't want to wait around. I know Robinson is here tonight. We'll see what happens."

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The Ring Ratings

For Period Ended December 20, 1999


WELTERWEIGHTS
Weight limit: 147 pounds

1. RAY ROBINSON
Harlem, NY 88-0 (WBC/WBA Champ)
2. SHANE MOSLEY
Pomona, CA 34-0 (IBF Champ)
3. IKE QUARTEY
Ghana 37-2
4. JAMES PAGE
Pittsburg, VA 22-4
5. VERNON FORREST
Atlanta, GA 30-1
6. JOSE LUIS LOPEZ
Mexico 42-4-2
7. ANDREY PESTRYAEV
Russia 24-2
8. OBA CARR
Detroit, MI 48-3-1
9. SHANNAN TAYLOR
Australia 25-1-1
10. WILFREDO RIVERA
Puerto Rico 28-4-1

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Fighter Of The Year




The Ring's Fighter of the Year: Sugar Ray Robinson

Sugar Ray Robinson, welterweight champion and one of the greatest pugilists of all time, is the 1999 winner of The Ring Magazine's Fighter of the Year award.

The award is nothing new to Robinson who achieved the top spot in 1994 and 1997.

Winning the award puts him on the top rung for the third time in five years.

Robinson had eleven fights this past year, he won all eleven of them. Nine by knockout, two by decision. Here's his 1999 record:

January 16 - beat Antwun Echols - twelve rounds.
February 12 - stopped James Page - five rounds.
March 6 - stopped James Coker - two rounds.
May 8 - beat Bernard Hopkins - twelve rounds.
June 14 - stopped Sean Sullivan - six rounds.
June 21 - stopped Jeff Malcolm - seven rounds.
June 28 - stopped Dindo Canoy - two rounds.
July 10 - stopped Shannan Taylor - three rounds.
September 25 - stopped Andrew Lewis - two rounds.
October 23 - stopped Vernon Forrest - ten rounds.
November 20 - stopped David Reid - nine rounds.

He defended his welterweight titles four times, defeated The Ring's #1 middleweight and The Ring's #2 light middleweight.

We hope you agree that there was no debate when it came time to select 1999's Fighter of the Year.

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Robinson Books Cinco de Mayo




With no opponent as yet confirmed, Sugar Ray Robinson has announced he will fight on May 6 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

HBO released a short co-statement indicating that the contest will be a pay-per-view event.

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Arum Finds Robinson Disrepectful




Oscar De La Hoya's promoter Bob Arum says any potential bout featuring Sugar Ray Robinson which would take place during the weekend of Mexican holiday Cinco de Mayo, is "disrespectful to the Mexican people."

"I see Robinson as poaching on a Mexican holiday and being disrespectful to the Mexican people."

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Robinson Picks Trinidad




As he cooled down from a training session, Sugar Ray Robinson was asked to pick the winner of the upcoming light middleweight WBC title clash between Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad Jr.

"Oscar's style is tailor made for Trinidad's style."

Robinson reasoned, "Oscar's a tight fighter. He needs to loosen up to hit you. When he does, he exposes himself and can be hit easily with short punches."