Sugar Ray Robinson
A boxer whose balletic grace and devastating power in the ring set the standard for what it means to be the greatest, pound-for-pound.
1921–1989 (age 68)·American boxer·Birthday: May 3·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Born Walker Smith Jr. in Detroit, he borrowed a friend's Amateur Athletic Union card to enter a boxing tournament, and the name Ray Robinson stuck. He would later earn the 'Sugar' prefix for his sweet, fluid style. Robinson dominated the welterweight and middleweight divisions for two decades, compiling a staggering professional record. His career was a tapestry of brilliance and resilience, marked by a famous rivalry with Jake LaMotta and a foray into entertainment with his own dance troupe. More than just a champion, Robinson fought with an artistic precision that transformed boxing into a spectacle, and his name became the universal benchmark for pugilistic excellence.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Sugar was born in 1921, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Sugar Was Born
The biggest hits of 1921
#1 Movie
The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse
Sugar's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1921Born
First commercial radio broadcasts
President: Warren G. Harding"My Man" — Fanny Brice
1926Started school
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1934Became a teenager
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1937Could drive
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1939Could vote
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1942Turned 21
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1951Turned 30
First color TV broadcast in the US
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,925Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Too Young" — Nat King ColeBest Picture: An American in Paris
1961Turned 40
Yuri Gagarin becomes the first human in space
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,500Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Tossin' and Turnin'" — Bobby LewisBest Picture: West Side Story
1971Turned 50
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1981Turned 60
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1989Died at 68
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
Key Achievements
- Won the world welterweight title in 1946 and held the world middleweight title five times.
- Compiled a 91-fight unbeaten streak early in his career, one of the longest in boxing history.
- Finished his career with a record of 175 wins, 19 losses, and 6 draws, with 109 knockouts.
- Was the first boxer to win a divisional world championship five times.
Did You Know?
He legally changed his name to Sugar Ray Robinson in the 1950s.
He owned a popular Harlem nightclub called Sugar Ray's.
He once fought 19 times in a single year (1943).
His flamboyant lifestyle included a pink Cadillac and a personal valet.
“Rhythm is everything in boxing. Every move you make starts with your heart, and that's in rhythm or you're in trouble.”
