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1989 CBS Sports Presents The Original Sugar Ray Tribute To Sugar Ray Robinson.
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00:00The former IBF World Junior Welterweight Champion, the hard-charging McGirt has moved up in weight, and now his goal
00:06is the welterweight crown.
00:07It's McGirt against Balthazar, live from Swan Lake, New York.
00:18Also today, a special look back at the style, charm, and grace of the man who may have been pound
00:23for pound, the greatest fighter ever, Sugar Ray Robinson.
00:34Welcome to scenic Swan Lake, New York, nestled in the Catskill Mountains, some 95 miles northwest of New York City.
00:41There's a rich tradition of boxing in the Catskills, Father Wilkins, a legendary local priest, with an instrumental and enticing
00:47the likes of Jack Dempsey, Rocky Marciano, Sugar Ray Robinson, and Muhammad Ali to train and fight in this resort
00:54region.
00:54And the last time there was a major fight here in Swan Lake, it featured a young heavyweight who grew
00:59up in this area, his name, Mike Tyson.
01:01And today, an eager crowd is expected to watch a compelling welterweight matchup between Tony the Tiger, Balthazar, and former
01:08IBF World Champion, Buddy McGirt.
01:10Hello everyone, I'm Brian. Welcome to this edition of CBS Sports Eye.
01:13He is still considered, pound for pound, the greatest fighter to ever live.
01:17Today, we'll take a look back and remember the original Sugar Ray, Sugar Ray Robinson.
01:28From the Salem United Methodist Church on 129th Street and St. Avenue, Adam Clayton Power Junior Boulevard in Harlem.
01:36Hello everyone, I'm James Brown and welcome to our show.
01:39What does a story about a tough customer in a rough sport have to do with a house of worship?
01:44Well, this is where Sugar Ray Robinson got his start.
01:48No, not fighting during Sunday services, but down below.
01:51In the basement was the headquarters of the Salem Crescent Boxing Club.
01:55The club is gone now, and only a basketball court remains.
01:58But this is where Sugar Ray Robinson worked on developing and honing his skills.
02:03And it was 50 years ago that Ray Robinson emerged from the gym and into the limelight for the first
02:09time,
02:09winning the prestigious New York Golden Gloves.
02:12Although only 19, Robinson appears to have a boxing finesse far beyond his years.
02:18A pulverizing right crashes off Valentine's jaw.
02:23We know him as Sugar Ray Robinson, but he was born Walker Smith Jr. in Detroit.
02:29At age 11, his mother moved the family to New York, eventually settling in Harlem during the Depression.
02:35Growing up, he was just an ordinary child.
02:37Well, you know, a prightness.
02:39He was mischievous.
02:41You know, he did a lot of devilish things.
02:47A pastor guided him into the church gym.
02:50But when it came time to fight amateur bouts, he was underage.
02:53So Walker Smith Jr. assumed another fighter's name and identity.
02:56A friend of mine, whose name was Ray Robinson, borrowed his birth certificate.
03:01And I meant to give him back his name, but he said I had to steal it.
03:05The new Ray Robinson never looked back.
03:08He picked up a nickname when a sports writer said to his trainer,
03:12You have a sweet fighter there.
03:13The trainer responded, Sweet as sugar.
03:16Others might be quicker or hit harder, but no one put it together so well so often.
03:22Sugar Ray himself once said, You have to look twice to see me once.
03:26I think pound for pound, he was the greatest of every winner except in the ring.
03:31Don't forget, the guy had over 200 fights.
03:35He fought for 25 years.
03:38He's got, he knew every, he's a masterful boxer.
03:42Terrific, terrific puncher.
03:44And he was just a great, great competitor.
03:48The race down in the ring was to knock you out as soon as possible.
03:51I guess he had a panache.
03:52You know, he could do it all.
03:54He could box, he could slug, he could defend himself.
03:58I once saw him knock out a guy moving backward.
04:01He was moving backward, not the guy.
04:02And knocked him out with a left hook, cold-tongued him.
04:06Robinson was one of four magnificent men whose accomplishments spanned four decades,
04:10and whose triumphs meant so much to the black community.
04:13Certainly another pleasure on my part to present to you, Ray Robinson, this achievement award.
04:22In those days when Ray was victorious, as often as he was, there would be an imprompte gathering of folks,
04:33and a motorcade procession would begin with Ray leading.
04:37And they would ride for blocks, going up 7th Avenue, and the horns tooting.
04:45Ray was Harlem, and Harlem was Ray.
04:48Ray's appeal was also universal.
04:51He was a showman, a ham, a flashy dresser, and a soft touch who looked good at whatever he did
04:57and wherever he went.
04:58Although the word entourage was not coined just for him, Robinson's followers certainly fit the definition.
05:09When he went to Europe for the first time, he took along a hairdresser, a valet, a golf pro.
05:16He wanted to be a champion.
05:18It was important for him to be a champion.
05:21It was important for him to be liked.
05:23And I imagine that's why so many people were around him.
05:26And what they liked to be around most was his pink Cadillac.
05:31There were days when Ray would get in his pink Cadillac and just sit in it, and people would just
05:38want to touch it.
05:40There was some magic to his charisma.
05:43Basically a kid at heart, you'd think Sugar Ray would be happy to fight for free.
05:47But Ray was smarter than that, as was discovered in 1957 on the person-to-person show with Edward R.
05:53Murrow.
05:54You give me the impression that you rather enjoy your work, is that right?
05:57No, just the opposite, Ed.
05:59I've never enjoyed boxing.
06:01I, uh, I just, it's just a business with me, and I guess I just, I know I've never enjoyed
06:07it.
06:08It can be a brutal business.
06:10The night after dreaming it would happen, Sugar Ray Robinson killed Jimmy Doyle in the ring.
06:17It took Robinson 75 pro bouts before he won the welterweight title and later beat Jake LaMotta for the middleweight
06:24crown.
06:24His only knockout was at the hands of Joey Maxim in 104-degree heat.
06:31Every fighter alive, back then, and even today, knows about Sugar Ray Robinson.
06:37I think boxing was always people, some people don't like it, and some people do like it.
06:43And, uh, I guess he got more people to like it, really.
06:47A great fighter is somebody that could always come back from the brink of destruction, and having over 202 fights,
06:54at least 80 or 90 of those fights, he's at the brink of destruction, almost losing, and coming back to
06:59win.
07:00I mean, that shows the character.
07:04After losing to Joey Maxim, Ray retired to go on tour as a tap dancer.
07:16After a 22-month layoff, Sugar Ray returned to boxing out of love for the sport, as well as a
07:22need for money.
07:23But he was now almost 34 years old and not the same.
07:27Still, he went on, beating Bobo Olsen to regain his middleweight crown.
07:32Losing it to Gene Fulmer.
07:34And then coming back to reclaim it from him.
07:37He lost it to Carmen Basilio.
07:39Their rematch was anxiously awaited by the media.
07:43Carmen, and all the excitement after the win in just one question.
07:46I've told ten sportswriters from around the nation here, nine of them, picked Sugar Ray to win by a knockout
07:51tonight.
07:52What's your answer to that?
07:53Nine of them are wrong.
07:55Thank you, Carmen.
07:57Nine of them were right.
07:58He beat Basilio that night in 1958, but lost the crown again in 1960.
08:05I would like to end this career with a great climax, if I possibly can.
08:11If I can regain the midway championship for the sixth time, I most certainly would then say it's been a
08:17very wonderful career.
08:18Thank God and all the wonderful people who've prayed for my success.
08:23Sugar Ray never won that title again.
08:26At the age of 44, he was fighting kids in their 20s for $500 purses.
08:31In December 1965, Sugar Ray Robinson retired.
08:35They held a night in his honor at Madison Square Garden in the same ring where a quarter century earlier,
08:41he got started on his fabulous career.
08:45He was the best fighter I ever saw.
08:48And I've been looking at fighters for 55 years.
08:50He'd have a picnic today with what's around him, including Tommy Hearns and Sugar Ray Leonard.
08:57They wouldn't be strong enough for him.
08:59Of all the fighters, I put them up there on Mount Olympus.
09:01With all due respect to a great guy like Joe Lewis, Rocky Marciano, Tony Canzneri, Willie Pepp, Sandy Sadler.
09:09So many greats.
09:09Muhammad Ali.
09:10They come here.
09:12Ray Robinson's up there.
09:13Up on Mount Olympus by himself.
09:14Just an unusually great, great fighter.
09:17He was a champion indeed.
09:19And in no fight was this more evident than the St. Valentine's Day Massacre.
09:24Sugar Ray Robinson versus Jake LaMotta.
09:26Now, we'll show you some selected rounds from the original television broadcast back in 1951 when we continue.
09:34Fifteen-round World Middleweight Championship bout between the champion Jake LaMotta and the challenger Sugar Ray Robinson.
09:42Wow.
09:43Well, who better to watch the Sugar Ray Robinson, Jake LaMotta fight with than CBS Sports Boxing analyst and champion
09:49trainer Gil Clancy.
09:50And Gil, so much talk about this great fighter.
09:52But what made Sugar Ray so special to you?
09:54There's only one word to describe Sugar Ray Robinson, and that's class.
09:58We've already seen his class in the ring, but he lived like a champion outside the ring.
10:03When he was being introduced before a major event, he walked into that ring, he was perfectly groomed.
10:08Everybody knew they were looking at a champion.
10:10Now, this fight matched then welterweight champion Sugar Ray against middleweight champ Jake LaMotta.
10:15What about LaMotta?
10:16LaMotta was probably the most underrated middleweight of all time.
10:20Strong guy, he could box, and he could punch.
10:22Unfortunately, he came along at the same time as the great Sugar Ray Robinson.
10:27Now, these two had fought five times before with LaMotta winning only once.
10:31What were your thoughts going into the sixth and final bout?
10:34Jake was a little bit over the hill going into this fight, and I thought that Ray Robinson, with his
10:38speed, would be able to pick him apart.
10:39All right, now, the fight you're about to see was broadcast live on February 14th, 1951, to the largest TV
10:46audience ever at that time.
10:48We're going to pick up the action in the fourth round.
10:50The site was Chicago Stadium, and sportscaster Ted Husing called the bout.
10:54The bell for round number four.
10:57Sugar Ray Robinson in the white.
11:00The middleweight champion, Jake LaMotta, in the black trunks.
11:02The middleweight champion, Jake LaMotta, in the black trunks.
11:32The slightest trickle of blood appears just inside LaMotta's bright nostril.
11:38Robinson was a fury then, looking for the KO.
11:52Two minutes to go, that straight right rocked LaMotta.
12:15Robinson is also bleeding slightly from both nostrils.
12:18Here we go.
12:19What better?
12:20What better?
12:45What bad?
12:53One minute to go, round number four.
12:55And now Robinson's beginning to use combinations of punches,
12:58including the bolo, as well as the jabs and the hooks.
13:05LaMotta keeps boring in.
13:17That's the best blow LaMotta has scored tonight.
13:23Half a minute to go, fourth round.
13:53There's the bell ending round number four.
13:56An exhibition of the addresser and on occasion the counter-puncher.
14:08Time and time again.
14:10And there they go.
14:28Both boys have attending positions in their corners tonight
14:31with honorary second cards.
14:34Go x 2, Matt!
14:41Go x 3, Matt!
15:00Get Xavier, get him!
15:01Go x 3, Matt!
15:03Go!
15:10Two minutes to go off round number five.
15:35Two minutes to go off round number five.
16:03That brought blood from Robinson's nostril, the left with the right cross.
16:09One minute to go round number five.
16:40Half a minute to go in the fifth round.
16:42One half a minute to go.
16:45One half a minute to go.
16:50One half a minute to go in the fifth round.
17:10There's the bell ending round number five.
17:12One half a minute to go in the fifth round.
17:14One half a minute to go in the fifth round.
17:44One half a minute to go in the fifth round.
17:54One half a minute to go in the fifth round.
18:11One half a minute to go in the fifth round.
18:41One half a minute to go in the fifth round.
18:50One half a minute to go in the fifth round.
19:15One half a minute to go in the fifth round.
19:17One half a minute to go in the fifth round.
19:18One half a minute to go in the fifth round.
19:52Robinson set him up with those body blows, damaged his nose.
20:02We have LaMotta on clear street, holding on.
20:16There is a barrel, ending one of number 11.
20:27Well, certainly that was one of the most damaging evidences of punching that you have seen in recent years.
20:35From the ringside, the greatest sportswriters in the world.
20:39Of course, the greatest names are here.
20:41From the theater, Civic Life Sports.
20:46Headed to force by the president of the International Boxing Club, James DeNorris.
20:55Two minutes to go of the 12th round.
21:00LaMotta's left eye is beginning to close.
21:02The punches rock him.
21:04He's very weary.
21:08He winces when he's hit now.
21:14The crowd senses the kill.
21:29LaMotta is completely on clear street.
21:33He's fighting now.
21:36Pautiously.
21:43And Rockalee.
21:48He has badly cut.
21:51As far as punching is concerned.
21:53Around his right eye.
21:55One minute to go.
21:5612th round.
22:00Robinson is merciless.
22:01Keeps looking at the clock.
22:08No man can enjoy this tunnel.
22:15Row after row after row.
22:17From the ring, the crowd is standing and cheering.
22:23LaMotta is just a catcher with a half a minute to go.
22:25Mouse wide open.
22:27Left eye bleeding.
22:43The round is almost over.
22:52There's the bell ending.
22:5412th round.
22:55The hazards of the crowd.
22:57Listen to them.
23:14LaMotta's left eye is closing gradually.
23:20Two minutes to go.
23:21Round 13.
23:23LaMotta at this moment, a tired battler.
23:26A chopping block.
23:28Robinson trying to KO him.
23:48For eight rounds, LaMotta gave better than he took.
23:51And then Robinson unleashed all of his best guns for the last four rounds.
24:11These are clean whistling shots, lefts and rights.
24:14How he can survive them, how he can survive them, nobody knows.
24:16Heads shake at the ringside.
24:22The fight is going to be stopped on the signal from the chairman of the Illinois Athletic Commission, Joe Kleiner,
24:29to Frankie Sepora.
24:30The fight was stopped in the 13th round with our scorecard showing that Ray Robinson was ahead 63 points to
24:3957.
24:40And in the 13th round, and in the 13th round, the hard luck round, the championship of the world has
24:45changed hands.
24:47Now, the time of that TKO was 2-0-4 of the 13th round, and Gil, there was so much
24:51great action in that fight, but what do you remember most about it?
24:53I remember the amazing, blazing combinations that Sugar Ray Robinson threw, but it was more amazing that Jake LaMotta could
25:01absorb all this punishment before he was finally stopped.
25:04All right, and after the fight, Ray Robinson spoke to Ted Husing and a television audience.
25:08I'd like to ask you one question before you go, Ray.
25:10When did you know that you had him?
25:11Because you were fighting pretty evenly for eight rounds.
25:14Well, that's the way we planned the fight.
25:15We figured LaMotta would be strong as he was.
25:18First part of the fight, and the last part of the fight, he was weakened.
25:20We figured to box along the first part of the fight and wait till he showed signs of weakening, which
25:25he did.
25:26I think.
25:26And in those late rounds, after the age, he showed signs, and my manager told me to start throwing, opening
25:31up the heavier punches.
25:33Well, Ray, my congratulations to you.
25:35You're a wonderful champion at the welterweight.
25:36I hope that you're the greatest of middleweight division ever knew.
25:39As we look at it one more time, 38 years after the same Valentine's Day massacre, Jake LaMotta recalled what
25:45it was like.
25:46The referee stopped the fight the 13th round while I was still on my feet with Robinson pounding me up
25:52against the ropes.
25:53If the referee held up another 30 seconds, Robinson would have collapsed from hitting me.
25:59Coming up, you'll see some of Sugar Ray's knockout power and how those outside the ring remember him.
26:05Well, I tell you, what comes to mind is a great, a great fighting machine.
26:16When are we going to play golf, you know?
26:19We're third, he's fighting for the championship.
26:21And after the third round, he treated Villamaine like he was a sparring partner, just so sensational.
26:27And after the third round, he looked at me again going back to his corner and said, hey, let's play,
26:31let's play.
26:32And of course, he walked him.
26:33Outside of that, he was a very, very wonderful man.
26:39Robinson did have time for fun, but there was also a serious side to the man.
26:43After Sugar Ray retired from boxing, he and his wife moved to Los Angeles where they helped set up the
26:48Sugar Ray Robinson Foundation to assist underprivileged children.
26:52I got involved in helping children like I'm doing now.
26:56I spend my life and I'm sure it will be until the day I die.
27:00I love children.
27:02I love trying to help them.
27:03He says to me, honey, this is the greatest fight of my life, fighting for children and with children.
27:10Publicizing his cause was very important to Ray.
27:13What's the name of that organization that you're interested in?
27:16Sugar Ray Youth Foundation.
27:18Yeah, you're right.
27:19Gently, gently.
27:21And one who benefited from the foundation recalled his influence.
27:28He told me, he said, you know, you're a fast runner.
27:30I said, well, thank you.
27:31I was very shy.
27:32And he said, no, keep your head up.
27:34Don't be, don't look down.
27:36You're a great person.
27:37And I said, well, thank you.
27:38I said, well, not as great as you.
27:40And he made the comment that one day you will be and you will see.
27:44Sugar Ray Robinson was an inspiration indeed.
27:47But Gil, I've got to ask you, what would you do if one of your fighters was clowning around with
27:51somebody in the audience like Ray Robinson was with Bob Hope?
27:53Boxing is a sport that requires complete concentration.
27:57And if one of my guys was trying to communicate with somebody in the audience, I'd throw him on the
28:01stool and he'd hear from me.
28:04All right.
28:04Well, the fight we're about to take a look at is the final round of Sugar Ray Robinson versus Rocky
28:08Graziano back in 1952.
28:11Gil, size up Graziano.
28:13Graziano was a dangerous right-hand puncher.
28:15That's just about it with him.
28:16Could get anybody out if he hit him with a right hand.
28:18But he didn't figure to hit the great Sugar Ray.
28:20This fight also took place in Chicago Stadium coming up just one year after the LaMotta bout.
28:26Let's pick up the action in the third and final round.
28:32Round three.
28:37Robinson won his title in February 14, 1951 from Jake LaMotta.
28:42Lost it to Randy Turpin in England in July and regained it in a tremendous effort in September in New
28:48York City.
28:49There you see him double hooking and carrying those punches underneath into the body.
29:12At this point, many experts are saying that Graziano looked anything but bad in his boxing against Ray Robinson.
29:26And Ray goes down until official lockdown.
29:28But before the fight began, the Illinois Boxing Commission ruled that a man would not have to stay down for
29:33the mandatory count of eight.
29:48Maybe the knockdown will infuriate Robinson.
29:50This has been his history and his great efforts in the ring.
29:54It took a lashing by Randy Turpin in their second fight to bring him back to a point where he
29:58smashed Turpin to the ground
30:00to take back the middleweight championship of the world.
30:02So, Graziano has scored the first knockdown.
30:07And there goes his mouthpiece and Graziano hits the canvas.
30:10Two, three, four, six, seven, eight, nine, ten.
30:20Ray Robinson retains the middleweight championship of the world.
30:26Graziano still trying to kick some life into his legs.
30:38A crowd of 23,785, which never sat in its expensive seats, witnessing one of the finest exchanges for the
30:47middleweight championship of the world,
30:49paying over $252,000.
30:51Graziano walking dejectedly to his corner and understandably sad.
30:59This was the moment he had asked for, but certainly not the conclusion he had anticipated.
31:04That was Sugar Ray at his best, coming back and taking care of business.
31:09Gil, an awful lot of hype about some pretty impressive boxers today,
31:12but can anyone in the fight game today compare to Sugar Ray?
31:16There was only one Sugar Ray Robinson.
31:18Had that special electricity about him.
31:20There's never been anyone like him before or since.
31:23All right, Gil, thank you very much.
31:25Coming up, some final thoughts on Sugar Ray Robinson after this word from your local station.
31:33Sugar Ray Robinson has replaced it.
31:45Across the way, the Hotel Teresa, by which his motorcade would speed, is now an office building.
31:51But this past June, New York City named the intersection after him.
31:55And soon, a cornerstone will be placed here.
31:59Suffering from Alzheimer's disease, Sugar Ray Robinson, age 67, died this past April.
32:07At his funeral, the fight crowd joined his fans and heard the Reverend Jesse Jackson eulogizing.
32:13Whenever he fought, the world had a way of standing still.
32:18The sin of the rain belonged to him.
32:21Now, it's been 50 years since Sugar Ray first caught our eye by winning the Golden Gloves.
32:25Since then, scores of heroes have come and gone.
32:28But Sugar Ray appreciated that.
32:30And in fact, one of his favorite songs was Everything Must Change.
32:35Everything Must Change.
32:41Nothing Stays The Same.
32:46No, no.
32:48Everyone Must Change.
32:54Nothing Stays The Same.
33:01When Youngs Become The Whole.
33:08Best Free Us Do A Ort.
33:14Cause that's the way of time
33:20Nothing and no one goes unchanged
33:26There are not many things
33:32In life you can be sure of
33:40It's a rain comes from the clouds
33:45And sunlight's up above high
33:48It's hummingbirds to clouds
33:56When the earth turns to spring
34:03Wounded heart will heal
34:06Yes it will
34:09But never much too soon
34:15Everything must change
34:22The young, the comfy, oh, oh
34:29Mystery's different, oh
34:34The words thank you are comparatively small
34:37For the way that I feel right now
34:40But what else could you say on an occasion like this?
34:44Thank you
34:44Thank you
34:45Thank you
34:47Thank you
34:50Thank you
34:50Thank you
34:58Thank you
35:00Thank you
35:20Coming up next
35:21Our CBS Sports Sunday live main event
35:24Buddy McGirt against Tony the Tiger Balthazar
35:26All right
35:27And I don't know
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