After Ray regained the middleweight title from Gene Fullmer on May 1, 1957, he traveled to Yankee Stadium four months later to take on the challenge of Carmen Basilio. Basilio won a close, split 15 round decision in Ring Magazine’s ‘Fight of the Year.’
Six months later, Sugar Ray avenged the loss at Chicago Stadium on March 25, 1958. He won a split decision 15 round decision, and at 37 years of age, was the 5 time middleweight champion of the world. Looking back on the tapes of those fights, that was my favorite win for Ray, beating Basilio in the rematch. I just couldn’t stand Basilio, the way he talked, and the fact he was a crybaby, and never conceded any loss. He reminded me of Duran and Chavez years later, both who only bitched and complained every time they lost.
Winning the middleweight title on 5 times is an amazing accomplishment, and to me one of the greatest in boxing history. Finances kept Ray in the sport however, since bad investments and business decisions had left him broke. He continued to fight on for the money alone, unfortunately a common occurrence among many great champions throughout history.
Sugar Ray took a year and a half off from the ring after beating Basilio, returning to action on December 14, 1959 at the Boston Garden. He knocked out Bob Young in two quick rounds, setting up a bout with Paul Pender the following month. As the year 1959 closed, and ushered in the decade of the 1960’s, Ray was approaching his 39th birthday, and time would only tell how many good fights he actually had left.
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