Randy Turpin vs. Sugar Ray Robinson (1st meeting)
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Ray Robinson 154 lbs lost to Randolph Turpin 159 lbs by PTS in round 15 of 15
- Date: 1951-07-10
- Location: Earls Court Arena, Kensington, London, United Kingdom
- Referee: Eugene Henderson
- World Middleweight Championship (1st defense by Robinson)
Notes
- This was the seventh and final fight of Robinson's European tour. The other six fights were non-title affairs which took place in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, and Italy between May 21 and July 1.
- Upon his arrival in London, Robinson was mobbed by fans. In his book Sweet Thunder: The Life and Times of Sugar Ray Robinson, Wil Haygood wrote, "People followed him everywhere; he required a police escort. Bobbies circled him as he moved about. Sugar Ray Robinson was a full-fledged international star."
- Photographer Gordon Parks, who accompanied Robinson to London, said, "There were no workouts. Sugar Ray played at golf through the days, and at card tables late into the nights."
- Robinson was a 4-1 favorite.
- Coming into this bout, Robinson was on a streak of 89 wins (55 ko's), with 2 draws and a no contest, with a total record of 129-1-2-1 (84 ko's).
- Turpin came into the bout with a record of 40-2-1 (29 ko's) and had avenged both defeats and held a previous win over the fighter he had drawn with.
- Robinson's purse was $84,000 and Turpin received $25,500.
- A sellout crowd of 18,000 produced a gate of $250,000.
- Robinson suffered a deep gash on his left eyebrow.
- Referee Eugene Henderson was the sole judge. When the fight concluded, he raised Turpin's hand in victory. His score was not announced.
- The Associated Press scored the fight 9-4-2 for Turpin.
- Official Program.
External Links
- "Sugar Ray Robinson Beaten by Randy Turpin, Loses Middleweight Title in London" Associated Press, July 11, 1951
- "British Boxer Upsets Ray To Win Middleweight Title" United Press, July 11, 1951
- Sweet Thunder: The Life and Times of Sugar Ray Robinson by Wil Haygood, Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf, 2009
- AP article: [1]