Robinson: Modern Times

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Robinson: I Can Fight Winner




Having called it wrong for the first De La Hoya-Trinidad fight, Robinson told press gathered at his daily workout that he would be interested in meeting the winner of the rematch.

"Some people blame me for the Trinidad fight not coming off. That was the only fight I wanted for a long time, but I'm a fighter, when it didn't happen I had to fight somebody else."

Given he picked Trinidad in the first fight, who did he favor in the second fight?

"Both great fighters, but I'm sticking to Trinidad."

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Trinidad: Open To Robinson or De La Hoya




Light middleweight challenger Felix Trinidad Jr. has said the door is open for a potential showdown with Sugar Ray Robinson in the future.

"It's something I've wanted for a long time. I need to prove I am better than him."

Expecting to level the score with Oscar De La Hoya in their rematch, Trinidad also spoke of a third and final fight to decide the series.

"We will wait and see, but honestly, the doors are open for these fights."

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Arum Not Keen on Robinson




Top Rank's Bob Arum is not exactly pleased with the circulating rumors of a possible fight between Sugar Ray Robinson and Oscar De La Hoya.

No discussion have taken place, but since Robinson floated the idea, the notion has picked up a support among the fight media should De La Hoya beat Trinidad.

"I'm not going to respond to this nonsense," was all the promoter was prepared to say on the subject.

Despite further questions, Arum refused to comment but was heard to mutter, "Dealing with Robinson is a waste of time."

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De La Hoya Does It Again




It was a fight that no-one expected. Even those who thought the first contest was a classic, could not have expected their second meeting to surpass the original for drama. But that's exactly what happened.

Both men fought brilliantly in a fight where the action ebbed-and-flowed between the two.

The first saw both trying to familiarize themselves with one another as not much other than the posturing and the jab were on display, but at the start of the second as they open up more it became clear that Trinidad was looking to hurt Oscar immediately. But then the unexpected happened.

Oscar caught Trinidad clean on the chin and put him down for a short count. The rabid TI-TO-TI-TO chants evaporated into the air as the dynamic of the clash seemed to have changed in an instant.

Trinidad showed respect for Oscar's power in the third as he tried to establish his range behind the jab whilst keeping out of harms way. The tension was growing but otherwise it was uneventful stuff.

Neither started the fourth was much intent but a right by Trinidad helped him to loosen up and when Oscar threw a wild right hook, Trinidad countered with a left-right that sent the champ down for an quick count of two, but enough to declare his own power and send his army of fans into a deafening fury.

Trinidad entered the fifth overflowing with confidence and met an energised De la Hoya, who for his part looked like a different fighter than the previous round. Both landed solid shots, Oscar guard high and using the jab, Trinidad ready to claim his knockout prize had his hands casually low and loaded up on each shot. It made for the closest round of fight as both got off in their new style.

De La Hoya's approach and output won him the sixth and was frustrating Trinidad in the seventh until he walked onto a lead right hand that dropped for the second time to the canvas. To his credit, Oscar got up and whilst shaken managed to see out the round as Trinidad bombed away.

His legs still hadn't returned to him in the eighth as Oscar went flat-footed and his movement from earlier in the fight was gone, giving the heavy handed Trinidad his best opportunity of the night, the two entered into a shootout and the Puerto Rican got the better of it, rocking the champion more than once as he fired lead right hands from distance.

The ninth saw Oscar regain his legs and with them his ability to keep out of trouble, using a variety of the jab he had Trinidad struggling to get settled and time launching the right hand with the same degree of success that he'd had for the last few rounds.

The pendulum of confidence had swung, and Oscar continued to score with the jab without having to put himself in harms way as Trinidad ate it without landing anything significant in return.

Going into the last two rounds Trinidad was up on judge Nathan Palmer's scorecard and tied on the other two, but he was now having a difficult time pinning Oscar down to open up for combinations or loaded up single shots. Throwing an uppercut when there was no opening, Oscar deflected planted his feet and threw a left to the liver and his own uppercut to the head. Down went Trinidad. Again only a quick count and Trinidad was not truly hurt but so late in the fight, a 10-8 round looked to have swayed what had been a close encounter.

The 12th and final round looked to be shaping into a free-for-all, letting hands go, look for the knockout closer. It wasn't. Oscar fought the round as though he knew that he held a point advantage and Trinidad did nothing until the final thirty-seconds, catching Oscar with a looping right that hand him reeling into the ropes for support. Eleven seconds left Trinidad had Oscar trapped and with one final blow from exhaustion but he missed his opportunity as Oscar spring-boarded off and tied him up to see out the clock.

All three ringside officials saw it for Oscar, judge Manuel Oliver Palomo from Spain scored it 112-111 for Oscar, so did judge Jesus Manuel Cova from the US and judge Nathan Palmer final scorecard read 113-111 Oscar.

The crowd, mainly Trinidad supported booed the decision. But this was no robbery, yes there were so many close rounds, but the eventual outcome was the right one.

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Oscar: Bring On Robinson




Oscar De La Hoya roared "Bring on Robinson" after claiming victory for a second time over Felix Trinidad Jr.

Any talk of Trinidad fighting Robinson in a mega fight showdown in New York were killed forever when De La Hoya upset the odds once again in Las Vegas.

Sugar Ray Robinson said from ringside at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino:

“Everybody is talking as if there's was a deal. There is no contract. At the moment I have no fight lined up.

But Oscar just proved himself to be the one of the best fighters around my weight, so why wouldn’t I want to fight him?”

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Robinson: No Communication with Arum




"It’s not going to happen," was unified welterweight champion Sugar Ray Robinson's take on a possible rematch with Oscar De La Hoya.

Robinson went on to state that De La Hoya is under contract with Bob Arum's Top Rank promotional outfit for four more fights and is unwilling to risk top earner losing again.

"I think the only way Oscar gets another chance to beat me is if he's his own boss."

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Robinson vs. Trinidad?




Nearly four years after the fight was first demanded, it looks as though Sugar Ray Robinson and Felix Trinidad Jr. are finally going to meet in a boxing ring.

Trinidad has reportedly agreed to two of the key obstacles holding up the long-awaited showdown.

First, a $7 million/$500,000 split of the revenue, with Trinidad taking the short end; second, a fight night rehydration clause, in which Trinidad will be penalized $1 million per pound should he weigh over 158-pounds.

With Trinidad's paperwork signed, all that it awaits is Robinson to okay the finer details and sign off on the fight.

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Trinidad Agrees Fight




Felix Trinidad Jr. and Don King, his promoter, reconfirmed that they have agreed to terms for a 2001 bout with Sugar Ray Robinson, although Robinson has not yet agreed to terms and it remains to be seen if he will.

"We have agreed to the terms on our side. I don't know about the other side," Trinidad Sr. said.

Nobody from Robinson's team could be reached for comment.

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Gainford: More Than One Option




Sugar Ray Robinson's long-time trainer George Gainford said he was not disappointed that a second fight with Oscar De La Hoya will not come off.

"I don't think it would of been any different to the first fight. Why is it necessary? It's not the best fight out there for Robinson."

Whilst most believe Robinson is likely to face Felix Trinidad Jr. early next year, Gainford was not so sure.

"It won't be Robinson's next fight. They may fight down the line, but we've already signed to face another fighter."

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Merchant Talks Robinson




As things seem to stand, Sugar Ray Robinson's next big fight opponent is still undecided, though Felix Trinidad Jr. is the front runner.

HBO's veteran color analyst Larry Merchant gave his opinion on the topic.

"What happens if Robinson wins, does it change the landscape? No. Trinidad has just lost twice to De La Hoya. Now you could say if Trinidad wins it changes everything, but at this stage if anybody beats Robinson it'll be huge."

Merchant expressed more interest in Robinson returning to the middleweight division and challenging heavier men like Bernard Hopkins and William Joppy in high-risk contests.

"I don't really know if it's possible, but it's something I'd pay to watch."

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Robinson Signs For McKart Fight




With hopes for a busy year, Sugar Ray Robinson has signed to fight Michigan's Bronco McKart in his home city at the Joe Louis Arena, Detroit, Michigan on January 12th.

Robinson said he targets to hit his hundredth professional contest in May. To achieve his goal he must fight four times in the next four months.

"I haven't ruled anybody out. I want to face the best available."

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Robinson vs. Trinidad a Go




After weeks of reports that a deal had been struck, Sugar Ray Robinson today announced he and Felix Trinidad Jr, have reached an agreement for a ten-round non-title fight.

The fight is scheduled for Saturday, May 5th at Madison Square Garden in New York.

It will be distributed on HBO pay-per-view.

Robinson said he liked what he saw in both Trinidad-De La Hoya fights.

"I thought they both looked good. Trinidad looked fast and strong. Maybe he was too cautious and that cost him the fights."

Asked why the fight was taking place now, when some consider it past it's date.

"It's a natural fight. I don't want fans or other fighters making up their own mind about who'd of won if we met. It's never too late."

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Robinson Set For February Fight




Welterweight champion Sugar Ray Robinson continues his busy schedule when he takes on Argentinean Felix Victor Vasconcel at the Sands Casino Hotel, Atlantic City, February 16.

For Robinson it will be another step towards his hundredth fight and the Trinidad showdown, and for Vasconcel who lost his Argentinean crown in his last fight back in May 2000, it marks a return to the ring.

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McKart Easy Decision




When Bronco McKart was offered the chance to fight the sport's pound-for-pound best fighter Sugar Ray Robinson in what the welterweight champion deems a tune-up, it was an easy decision.

"For me it was easy decision. I’m a fighter and that’s what I do. I’ve fought and clawed my way to the top, so one more fight, regardless who my opponent is, is not going to hurt me."

Having lost in his last fight to Winky Wright, McKart has chosen the path of most resistance in his attempt to climb back to the top.

"I've been offered my biggest pay to date for this fight, but I'll fight the same whether I'm fighting for $1 or $1 million."

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Robinson Wins #96




For the first time in Sugar Ray Robinson's long and illustrious career, he fought at his idols Joe Louis namesake stadium. His opponent was the heavier and top rated Bronco McKart.

In the days leading up to the fight, shown on free-to-air Network TV, rumours of a poor camp for Sugar Ray had the odds shorten and talk of a possible upset being on the cards. However when Robinson used that fabulous footwork of his to stay out of trouble and fire off blazing combinations in the first, such talk evaporated.

The crowd watched the Sugar Man float around the ring for the first three rounds, shooting the jab out and only planting his feet when letting loose with a three-or-four combination.

McKart, response was to try and apply some heavy pressure, which found him his only success of the fight in the fourth when he landed clean on Robinson in an exchange and outworked him over the three minutes to take the points on all the judges cards.

But as so often in the past, the fight back only brought out a more vicious Robinson. Switching to aggressor, he came out in the fifth leading off the left hook and staying within range more to entice McKart into exchanging.

The fifth round was a candidate for a 10-8 round without a knockdown, and the sixth was little better for McKart. Robinson simply took his time, picked his spots, and landed clean. It was about as one-sided as it gets.

Down the stretch Sugar Ray mixed up his approach as he looked to wear his opponent down to the point of a knockout. Having completely outclassed McKart, he was still looking to stop him and in the tenth and final round he put everything into it.

There were some quick exchanges which Robinson got the better of, McKart backing off trying to see the fight out on his feet. With thirty seconds left on the clock, Robinson set up a compact combination off a jab which ended with a double uppercut that sent McKart crashing to the canvas.

Refusing to end the fight off his feet McKart got up at eight and held on to see out the final seconds.

Michael Buffer confirmed the obvious when he read all three scores of 99-89 for Robinson.

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Robinson Out In March Fight




Further down the line Sugar Ray Robinson will face Panamanian Santiago Samaniego, former WBO NABO welterweight title holder.

The fight will headline an ESPN2 broadcast on March 16 from the Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Samaniego, 32-6-1 with 25 knockouts, is a first cousin of Roberto Duran.

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Gainford: Robinson Evaluation




George Gainford, trainer of Sugar Ray Robinson said he evaluates his fighters career after each passing fight.

"Age catches up with everybody. Robinson is still relatively young and wants to continue boxing, but I look at him after each fight and study him training. I can't say when or how, but I'll know when it's time for him to stop."

Gainford expects a motivated Robinson for the Trinidad contest, and predicts a knockout victory.

"Robinson will be the first person to knock out Trinidad," Gainford said.

"Robinson is the best fighter he’s ever fought, and I think his father has handpicked his opponents, even De La Hoya, who he should of beat."

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Ray Robinson KO 3 Felix Victor Vasconcel




Atlantic City, New Jersey - Sugar Ray Robinson lived up to his billing as the best fighter on the planet last night in shutting out and down opponent Felix Victor Vasconcel as he dropped him three times en route to an impressive and thrilling third-round stoppage victory.

"We were two fighters in the ring trying to get the victory, and he lost, there's no shame in that."

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Robinson Considers Options




RING, WBA, WBC & IBF welterweight champion Sugar Ray Robinson has his long awaited showdown with Felix Trinidad Jr. looming, but has said he is already considering "his options" once the fight is past.

"At this stage of my career, everything is an option."

Asked if a fight with former opponent and current IBF middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins was possible, Robinson said he had given it some thought, but was undecided whether the public would go for it a second time.

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Hopkins calls out Robinson for Rematch




IBF middleweight champion Bernard Hopkins wants a second clash with Sugar Ray Robinson following recent comments made regarding the possibility of the bout.

"We know that Ray has been avoiding us. We will put a lot of work into it, and a rematch is what the public wants to see," Hopkins told reporters.

"Yes he beat bigger fellows but they're not Bernard Hopkins."

Any potential stumbling block to a rematch regarding weight has been removed as Hopkins is happy to drop to 155-158 pounds, where Robinson's next super-fight opponent Felix Trinidad Jr. will weigh in.

"I know there's no problems with that weight, so if they mention weight, they are giving excuses."