Sugar Ray Robinson vs...Zale, Moore, Giambra, DeMarco

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Sugar Ray Robinson, in his long 200+ fight career, fought many fellow boxing legends in the welterweight, middleweight and lightheavyweight divisions from the 1940's to the 1960's. Henry Armstrong, Carmen Basilio, Gene Fullmer, Kid Gavilan, Joey Giardello, Rocky Graziano, Joey Maxim, Bobo Olson, Randy Turpin, Fritzie Zivic among them. Jake LaMotta, of course. Along with some fighters, such as Artie Levine, who were well-known only in certain boxing circles. Others still of Robinson's opponents were almost totally obscure. He even went up against, as an amateur, Billy Graham and Willie Pep.

But what about some of the big names of the time, in those divisions, Sugar Ray never quite got around to meeting in the ring? Here's some thoughts, styles are important but so is the record:

Robinson vs. Tony Zale: the "Man of Steel" from Gary was around to greet both corners before the Robinson-Graziano fight but was retired by then. I see Robinson-Zale as resembling Cerdan (Hmm...another hypothetical Sugar Ray opponent?) vs. Zale, 11 tough rounds and Robinson gets the KO.
Robinson vs. Archie Moore: the "Old Mongoose" supposedly once discussed a fight with Sugar Ray but they couldn't come to terms. Moore of course decisioned Maxim, and Maxim (heat or no, both fighters fought in the same weather that day) conquered Robinson, so Moore by 14 round KO or 15 round decision seems likely.
Robinson vs. Joey Giambra: a fight the "Buffalo Adonis" (never KO'd btw) wanted but never got. Giambra's archrival Giardello did manage a decision over Robinson, and Giambra himself beat Giardello 2 out of 3. True, once in Giambra's Buffalo hometown but he lost on Giardello's Brooklyn home turf and won in neutral San Francisco. So with a neutral site during the late 1950's, Giambra's best time and when Sugar Ray was slipping somewhat, a (possibly very) narrow decision for Joey as he goes all out in a great fight.
Robinson vs. Tony DeMarco: Basilio-Robinson were wars, so were Basilio-DeMarco but Carmen eventually wore Tony down. That's what would happen here, Sugar Ray by 12 round KO over the "Boston Bomber."
I'll even throw in Robinson vs. Walter Cartier: the fighter who director Stanley Kubrick made a documentary on, Cartier lived not far from this writer in Mt. Vernon. He was called an "Irish-American" boxer, which might be a bit unusual with that French name. Maybe he was French and Irish? Anyway, he had some talent but still Sugar Ray gets the TKO in 5 or 10.
Who else? Chico Vejar? Another fighter who was once a neighbor. Actually there's yet another who deserves a subject of his own, maybe I'll get to him if I can finish replying elsewhere.

Anthony

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Btw responding to my own post, here's a quote I recently found that mentions Walter Cartier. Kid Gavilan was quoted, "Only three men ever hurt me-Sugar Ray in our second fight, Tommy Bell and Walter Cartier. I think Cartier was the toughest puncher I ever fought." So a fighter such as Cartier, even with a somewhat erratic career, still impressed one of his noted opponents.

Anthony