March 25, 1958 – Boxing legend Sugar Ray Robinson, claimed victory in a 15 round split-decision over opponent Carmen Basilio and the Champ became the first boxing belt holder to win the title on 5 different occasions.
Sugar Ray held the world welterweight title from 1946 to 1951 and won the world middleweight title later that year.
He temporarily retired in 1952, only to return to the ring two-and-a-half years later and regain the middleweight title in 1955.
It was then that he claimed his fifth by beating Basilio as mentioned earlier. Sugar Ray Robinson was a very excellent amateur fighter before turning pro, registering an unblemished fight card record unofficially of 85-0 with 69 knock-outs. It is rumored that as a teem he did lose to fights but that was under his God-given name of Walker Smith Jr.
As a pro he went on a 91 fight unbeaten streak, which still ranks third in history as the longest. He was truly a great fighter in boxing history and as our late friend Frank Reading would say, ” This was truly one for the ages!” We miss you, Frank.
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