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In the long and storied career of Sugar Ray Robinson there is rarely any mention made about the significant contribution the City of Philadelphia made in the molding of this great legend.
Taylor knew right away that Robinson was a great fighter and gave him co-billing with Gus Dorazio in only Ray’s fifth pro start against 150-bout veteran Norment Quarles, who had met 10 world champions and only a month previously had held Bob Montgomery to a draw. Robinson flattened Quarles in thrilling fashion in four rounds. In 1941 Taylor put Robinson in his first main events at the Arena against contenders Jimmy Tygh, Nick Castiglione and Mike Evans, all of whom he flattened in short order.
That summer Taylor gave Ray his first world class attention when he matched him with lightweight champion Sammy Angott in an over-the-weight, non-title affair at Shibe Park before 15,000 fight fans. Robinson electrified the crowd by dropping the rugged champ on his face in round two and winning a convincing decision after 10 hard-fought rounds. Now thanks to Herman Taylor and Philadelphia, Sugar Ray was already being tabbed by many as the best fighter in the world. Robinson returned to Philadelphia Convention Hall in September for a highly anticipated battle of undefeated contenders against the future welterweight champ Marty Servo with 11,000 on hand. Ray won a tough but convincing nod over his aggressive rival with pinpoint punching.
By now Sugar Ray’s services were in demand throughout the country but he always returned to Philly to battle for Taylor against anyone brave enough to take him on. In 1942 he beat Izzy Jannazzo at the Arena (9,917 paid) and KO’d Al Nettlow at Convention Hall (7,868 paid). During the war, Robinson served a stint in the Army, but he was acclaimed as the “uncrowned” welterweight champion, and his next Philadelphia appearance was momentous. In May 1945, top rated middleweight Jose Basora held Ray to a draw before 14,653 fans squeezed into Convention Hall. Only a last round rally by the Sugar Man salvaged the tie in the eyes of the officials and some of the crowd.
By 1948 Robinson had become welterweight champ and returned here for a 10-round tune-up win over Bobby Lee at the Arena, and in 1949 against the sensational Cuban Kid Gavilan at Municipal Stadium with 27,805 watching him retain his crown in a breathtaking victory and earning the largest purse of his career (up to that time).
In 1950, Camden based George “Sugar” Costner, rated the number one contender, claimed he would prove he was “the Real Sugar.” In front of 11,747 Convention Hall clients, Sugar Ray Robinson crushed Costner at 2:49 of the first round. Some old-time Philly fistic followers insisted this was Ray’s greatest fight.
Sugar Ray won the undisputed world middleweight title in 1951, retired in 1952, came back in 1955 to regain the crown and didn’t box again in Philadelphia (except for one exhibition) until as former champ, he met Joey Giardello at Convention Hall in June 1963. It was like old times with Herman Taylor promoting the bout as he had done 23 years before when he first showcased Ray in Philly, and promising the winner a shot at the title. Unfortunately for Ray, Joey won the match and took the title from Dick Tiger. Sugar Ray Robinson’s last fight in Philadelphia was in 1965 against Young Joe Walcott (Harvey McCullough), a winning effort that pushed Ray’s Philly won-lost log to 18-1-1, with 11 KOs. As we can see, the City of Philadelphia played an important role in developing the Sugar Ray Robinson legend. |
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When
Robinson turned pro in 1940 after a spectacular amateur
career, he was obviously highly sought after by the boxing
fraternity. Mike Jacobs, the most powerful man in the sport
at the time, wanted Ray to sign an exclusive promotional
contract with his New York-based Twentieth Century Sporting
Club. But Robinson, wanting to maintain his independence in
negotiating with the highest bidder, shocked Jacobs by
signing an “exclusive contract” with Philadelphia promoter
Herman Taylor to promote matches for him in the Quaker City.
This gave Robinson a trump card in all future dealings with
Jacobs for lucrative matches. 
By
June 1950, State Athletic Commissioner “Ox” DeGrosa vacated
Jake LaMotta’s middleweight title for various reasons and
matched Robinson against tough French challenger Robert
Villemain for the Pennsylvania version of the world
middleweight championship at Municipal Stadium. He won
easily before 22,004 witnesses. Returning to Convention Hall
in October, he defended his state “world title” against a
then little known Hawaiian, Bobo Olson, finishing him in the
12th round.