After losing to Gene Fullmer for the second time in a row on March 4, 1961, most of the boxing world was urging Ray to retire. Robinson had no choice but to continue on, simply because he was broke. When Ray did return to the ring on September 25, 1961 in Detroit against a nobody named Wilf Greaves, he was dropped in the eighth round, but managed to squeeze out a split decision victory. Now 40, only time would tell how long he could keep boxing.
Ray finished the remainder of 1961 strongly, with a decision over Denny Moyer in October, and two consecutive knockouts. One over Al Hauser in November, and a rematch ko of Wilf Greaves in December. In his first bout of 1962 however, he lost a unanimous decision in a second fight with Denny Moyer. Robinson was struggling with mediocre opponents, and I can only imagine being a fight fan at that time, having to witness the tragedy of his career.
Ray continued boxing until November 10, 1965, when he lost the last fight of his career to Joey Archer. Robinson had fought 34 times between 1963 and 1965 alone, losing 10 of those bouts. To me his career is one of the saddest of all boxing history, because despite his greatness, it ended pathetically.
December 10, 1965 was declared as ‘Sugar Ray Robinson’ night at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Four of his foes surrounded him in ring center, those being Gene Fullmer, Carmen Basilio, Randy Turpin and Bobo Olson. He was awarded a huge trophy celebrating him as the ‘World’s Greatest Boxer’, and the fans got a chance to say goodbye to the ‘Pound for Pound’ King.
It’s often told that Ray and his wife returned to their apartment that night, which only had a bed and a small table in it. Broke and 44 years old, boxing had left Ray as he had started. With nothing.
After having moved to Los Angeles, the kindness of friends and celebrities like Frank Sinatra gave him some respect back. In 1969, he started the Sugar Ray Robinson Youth Foundation, and helping the youth of Los Angeles gave him purpose. He finished his boxing career with a record of 174-219-6, and passed away on April 12, 1989 at his home. He was inducted a year later into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastota, New York. Despite his personal problems and failures, he is no doubt in my mind the greatest boxer to ever lace up a pair of gloves. Sugar Ray Robinson.
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