Sugar Ray Robinson's Top Five Matches - Part 4

Sugar Ray Robinson's Top Five Matches - Part 4

The knockout against Rocky Graziano that continued to keep Sugar on top

For many years, Sugar Ray Robinson dominated not one, but two divisions in professional boxing. Categorical victories against world champions, spectacular and classy fights, great rivalries and knockouts, after which his rivals remain on the ground for a long time. All of this is present in the career of one of the greatest, if not the greatest, boxer of all time. We've already reminisced about three of Rey's best five matches, so we're only two matches away and have to pick carefully to determine which are the other two fights we'll remember him best for.

Match number four in our rankings was once again won by knockout against a great champion like Rocky Graziano. Unlike Rey, Rocky only competes in the middleweight division. The one where Robinson ended Jake La Motta's dominance in 1951 when he defeated him for the fifth time in the sixth match between them. Then Sugar also became the world champion in this division, in which only a few years earlier Graziano managed to win and keep the championship belt until 1948, when he was knocked out by his greatest rival Tony Zale.

The loss motivated Tomas Rocco Barbella, as Graziano's full name is, and he wants to get back on top. For that, however, he has to deal with Ray Robinson, who defended his title against Bobo Olsen in May 1952. Sugar and Rocky met in Chicago on August 16th of that year, and the battle between them will always be remembered. It is clear to everyone that the far better boxer is Ray. He has many more weapons than the only one Graziano has to offer - the powerful right straight. The hopes are that this power will lead to the intrigue that many hope to see at Chicago Stadium. One thing is certain. There will be a serious exchange of heavy blows.

However, Ray Robinson is the man who starts to dish it out, as instead of guarding against the title challenger's dangerous right hand, he starts aggressively and on the offensive, throwing bomb after bomb to Rocky's head and body. In the first round, Sugar even manages to press his opponent to the ropes and score a very good combination.

In the second part, however, the champion follows the advice of the people in his corner and slows down the pace considerably. Graziano took advantage of this and was able to deliver his specialty, but was forced to chase Rey around the ring, wearing him down considerably.

To the delight of the audience, in the third round we again have a more serious exchange of blows. Another good combination makes Graziano back up, but Rey has found himself, and while Rocky's right is not accurate enough, it does damage to the champion, who drops to his knee. However, this knockdown does not force the referee to count as Sugar is extremely quick to his feet and continues his participation in the match without issue. This situation unleashes the fury of Robinson, who pins his opponent to the ropes, lands two beautiful left hooks, and then a powerful right that knocks out Graziano's tooth guard. For a split second, Rocky stays on his feet, but very quickly his hands and head slide down and he falls to the ropes. His attempt to stand up fails and the referee manages to count to 10 while he is still on the ground.

After the match, Graziano admits to himself that he thought he could stand up, but he had no strength in his legs. "One second I was winning the match and the next I could hear the countdown. This boy can really fight! He is a great boxer!", the contender also states.

Another significant and emphatic victory for Sugar Ray Robinson leaves him unchallenged at the top, while this defeat spells the beginning of the end for Rocky Graziano's career.

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