Showing posts with label ray. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ray. Show all posts
This chapter from "The Sweet Science" describes the scene on the day of the Sugar Ray Robinson v Randy Turpin rematch, and the scene at the arena before the fight started...describing the various characters and fans of each side who Liebling met that day at the Polo Grounds, New York in 1951...and of course the fight itself..
Elmer (Violent) Ray was the #1 ranked heavyweight contender in early 1947. He lost that ranking and a potential title fight with Joe Louis, when he was defeated by Jersey Joe Walcott on March 1, 1947. Ray would subsequently go on to defeat future champion Ezzard Charles on a split decision, before Charles knocked him out in the 9th round on May 7, 1948, ending his title hopes for good.
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In the years before he became a famous professional boxer, he rose to prominence in the southern battle royale circuit- battle royales being a fight game from that time period in which 10 competitors would be put into the ring with each other and have an "all-against-all" throw-down until only one was left. Ray won 61 battle royales and supposedly once knocked out nine opponents with one hand behind his back during a match in New Orleans, earning himself the title "King of the Battle Royale."
According to the Traverse City Eagle, March 11, 1946 -
"Ray had a system that let him win 61 of those free-for-alls. In these bouts, the usual order is for the little guys to gang up on the biggest man and down the batting order in that manner. Elmer simply dropped to the floor when the bell sounded, crawled to a corner, placed his back against the ropes and took the whole gang as it came at him."
He also had a reputation as an alligator wrestler. When he held camp near his home town in Florida, he would scare his manager to death by going out into the mud and wrestling 'gators, often to entertain tourists. In fact, he was so comfortable around them that he was known to casually play with them and let them eat out of his hand.
"Elmer (Violent) Ray has the extraordinary distinction of being the only man Joe Louis wouldn't even meet in an exhibition*. Louis boxed Dan Merritt of Cleveland instead, and stood watching as Ray, a crowding weaver and bobber with the speed of a swift middleweight, ironed out Claudio Villar, a Spaniard, in 29 seconds flat.”
"Arturo Godoy and Tami Mauriello rejected guarantees to square off with Ray at Madison square Garden, Lee Oma the Violent One's share of the swag in addition to his own. Joe Baksi and Lou Nova refused. Melio Bettina will have nothing to do with the Hastings Hammerer. Jimmy Bivins turned down the chance to march front and center with him in Los Angeles, where the terror recorded 19 knockouts in a row. The current Joe Walcott will have no truck with him in Baltimore... Currently he is drawing and at Miami's Negro ball yard, Dorsey Park, while putting the slug on such as Dan Merritt and Al Patterson, the latter a slatty character out of Pittsburgh. "It's better than wrestlingalligators and fighting nine guys at once," beams Violent Ray."
-The Coshocton Tribune, March 8, 1946
*Louis and Ray would meet in exhibitions later as detailed below.
"None of the near-name heavies wants any part of Ray, who in a New Orleans battle royal knocked out nine opponents with one hand tied behind his back."
"...in doing so he made of Elmer Ray a modern Sam Langford. You remember the Boston Tar Baby. He was a guy heavyweight champion Jack Johnson dodged and dodged during the six years he held the title some three decades ago. Langford tried desperately to get a bout with the champ, but Johnson never would have a part of him. Louis is that way with Ray. It’s silly to say that Louis, the man who has made so many valiant defenses of the crown, is afraid of Elmer. But it is a fact that he won’t fight the burley puncher from Hastings, Florida."
-Middlesboro Daily News, July 26, 1947
(by MarcianoFrazier)
................
July 25, 1947 -
"The gallery gods went into ranting hysterics last night when the burly negro who once wrestled alligators for a living smashed the myth which was Ezzard Charles. The boxing bigwigs, who had been grooming Charles for a fight with Joe Louis, laughed. Once more they had given Joe Louis, the heavyweight champion, an excuse to dodge the violent one. For from 10 rows back it looked like Charles all the way. He danced and jabbed and landed a lot on Ray's bobbing pate and Elmer's busy elbows. But inside 10 rows you could see the devastation wrought by Ray's jarring hooks, blasts which raised the sheaf of Ezzard's cheek. “No holding,” was the continual admonition of referee Eddie Joseph. But Ezzard, of the winged retreating feet, had to hold for his life, and in doing so he made of Elmer Ray a modern Sam Langford."
(Middlesboro Daily News)
.....................
May 7, 1948 -
"Hammer-fisted Ezzard Charles racked up a knockout over Elmer Ray today and called for a shot at light heavyweight champion Gus Lesnevich. The fast moving Charles hanged the aging Ray right out of heavyweight boxing with a left hook at 2:43 of the 9th stanza."
(United Press)
....................
March 29, 1949 -
Elmer Ray apparently returned to Palatka Florida and annouced his retirement from the ring there to the newspapers
March.28. 1949,and also addmited that he had suffered a slight brain concussion in being KO'D in the third exhibition match with Joe Louis .
He announced that he was quitting the ring "While I still had my health" and was going to go back to Minneapolis,Mn, were he has a home(he had moved to Minneapolis in 1945) and that was going to open "A Package Shop" there.
(Hartford Courier)
...............
In the years before he became a famous professional boxer, he rose to prominence in the southern battle royale circuit- battle royales being a fight game from that time period in which 10 competitors would be put into the ring with each other and have an "all-against-all" throw-down until only one was left. Ray won 61 battle royales and supposedly once knocked out nine opponents with one hand behind his back during a match in New Orleans, earning himself the title "King of the Battle Royale."
According to the Traverse City Eagle, March 11, 1946 -
"Ray had a system that let him win 61 of those free-for-alls. In these bouts, the usual order is for the little guys to gang up on the biggest man and down the batting order in that manner. Elmer simply dropped to the floor when the bell sounded, crawled to a corner, placed his back against the ropes and took the whole gang as it came at him."
He also had a reputation as an alligator wrestler. When he held camp near his home town in Florida, he would scare his manager to death by going out into the mud and wrestling 'gators, often to entertain tourists. In fact, he was so comfortable around them that he was known to casually play with them and let them eat out of his hand.
"Elmer (Violent) Ray has the extraordinary distinction of being the only man Joe Louis wouldn't even meet in an exhibition*. Louis boxed Dan Merritt of Cleveland instead, and stood watching as Ray, a crowding weaver and bobber with the speed of a swift middleweight, ironed out Claudio Villar, a Spaniard, in 29 seconds flat.”
"Arturo Godoy and Tami Mauriello rejected guarantees to square off with Ray at Madison square Garden, Lee Oma the Violent One's share of the swag in addition to his own. Joe Baksi and Lou Nova refused. Melio Bettina will have nothing to do with the Hastings Hammerer. Jimmy Bivins turned down the chance to march front and center with him in Los Angeles, where the terror recorded 19 knockouts in a row. The current Joe Walcott will have no truck with him in Baltimore... Currently he is drawing and at Miami's Negro ball yard, Dorsey Park, while putting the slug on such as Dan Merritt and Al Patterson, the latter a slatty character out of Pittsburgh. "It's better than wrestlingalligators and fighting nine guys at once," beams Violent Ray."
-The Coshocton Tribune, March 8, 1946
*Louis and Ray would meet in exhibitions later as detailed below.
"None of the near-name heavies wants any part of Ray, who in a New Orleans battle royal knocked out nine opponents with one hand tied behind his back."
"...in doing so he made of Elmer Ray a modern Sam Langford. You remember the Boston Tar Baby. He was a guy heavyweight champion Jack Johnson dodged and dodged during the six years he held the title some three decades ago. Langford tried desperately to get a bout with the champ, but Johnson never would have a part of him. Louis is that way with Ray. It’s silly to say that Louis, the man who has made so many valiant defenses of the crown, is afraid of Elmer. But it is a fact that he won’t fight the burley puncher from Hastings, Florida."
-Middlesboro Daily News, July 26, 1947
(by MarcianoFrazier)
................
July 25, 1947 -
"The gallery gods went into ranting hysterics last night when the burly negro who once wrestled alligators for a living smashed the myth which was Ezzard Charles. The boxing bigwigs, who had been grooming Charles for a fight with Joe Louis, laughed. Once more they had given Joe Louis, the heavyweight champion, an excuse to dodge the violent one. For from 10 rows back it looked like Charles all the way. He danced and jabbed and landed a lot on Ray's bobbing pate and Elmer's busy elbows. But inside 10 rows you could see the devastation wrought by Ray's jarring hooks, blasts which raised the sheaf of Ezzard's cheek. “No holding,” was the continual admonition of referee Eddie Joseph. But Ezzard, of the winged retreating feet, had to hold for his life, and in doing so he made of Elmer Ray a modern Sam Langford."
(Middlesboro Daily News)
.....................
May 7, 1948 -
"Hammer-fisted Ezzard Charles racked up a knockout over Elmer Ray today and called for a shot at light heavyweight champion Gus Lesnevich. The fast moving Charles hanged the aging Ray right out of heavyweight boxing with a left hook at 2:43 of the 9th stanza."
(United Press)
....................
March 29, 1949 -
Elmer Ray apparently returned to Palatka Florida and annouced his retirement from the ring there to the newspapers
March.28. 1949,and also addmited that he had suffered a slight brain concussion in being KO'D in the third exhibition match with Joe Louis .
He announced that he was quitting the ring "While I still had my health" and was going to go back to Minneapolis,Mn, were he has a home(he had moved to Minneapolis in 1945) and that was going to open "A Package Shop" there.
(Hartford Courier)
In the continuing series, just for fun, the next fantasy fight report kindly passed to CBS courtesy of Jimmy Krug (Jersey-Jim), theboxingmagazine.com
Sugar Ray Robinson vs. Roy Jones, Jr.
........................................
There’s electricity in the air tonight as the referee Carlos Berrocal sends Robinson and Jones back to their respective corners… we are moments away from one of the most anticipated fights of the past month of this tournament.
And there’s the bell!
Round 1
Robinson and Jones meet in center ring. Ray goes to the body. That punch was caught on the arm by Roy Jones. Jones doubles up with the jab. The second one gets through! Robinson slips a right and scores with a straight left. Robinson strikes with a fast two punch combination and Jones misses with the counter!
They’re trading punches! Blazing speed on display by both fighters!
You can see the intensity in their eyes. Both men feinting and moving – looking for openings.
There’s the bell. That’ll do it for a very close opening round!
............
Round 2
Ray Robinson opens up the 2nd round with a hard, fast left to the head of Jones. Robinson can strike like a cobra at times… and so can Jones. A hard combination from Ray Robinson jolts Roy Jones! Jones fires back but Robinson was already out of range. You can see a little smile on Jones face. He felt those punches.
Robinson scores well with a combination to the body! Ray Robinson with a right to the head!
That’ll do it for the 2nd. Good round for Ray Robinson.
Neither fighter is marked. Each round is like a suspense novel right now… wondering how this one is going to play out.
We’ll be back for the 3rd in just a moment.
..............
Round 3
Welcome to the 3rd… and Roy Jones snaps Robinson’s head back with a hard jab! Robinson misses with a hook and Jones connects with a uppercut that lands flush. Robinson smiles at Jones. He felt that one.
Jones rips Robinson to the body with a savage combination!! Oh! Another big right lands to the head! Robinson wobbles!!
Robinson fires back with a four-punch combination!!
The fans are roaring their approval! And there’s the bell to end the 3rd round.
If we look at that replay again… look at those punches to Robinson’s body! Roy Jones Jr. threw those punches with some bad intentions and I’m surprised Robinson didn’t at least drop to a knee after taking those thunderous shots!
We’ll be back in just a moment.
.............
Round 4
Roy Jones and Ray Robinson are starting to light it up out there. We’ve got a long way to go… but maybe not! We’re in the 4th. Roy with a cracking right hand!! Robinson seemed a little surprised by that last shot! Jones has the power to Robinson’s attention. We’ve established that, now.
Jones with a huge right hand!
Robinson counters with a left to the body. Robinson absorbed that punch without buckling somehow. He can’t keep taking that shots all night without getting into trouble, though!
Robinson goes to the body.
Roy Jones scores with a fast combination downstairs at the bell! Another good round for Jones.
.............
Round 5
Roy Jones Jr. backs Robinson up with a blazing combination of punches to the head and body! It seems like Jones’ unnatural speed is giving Ray Robinson some problems! Jones rocks Robinson with a hard right hand and Robinson ties him up! Here comes Carlos Berrocal to separate them. He’s had hardly nothing to do tonight so far.
Robinson scores with a fast right hand over the top.
That punch wobbled Jones!! Robinson scores with a combination to the body! They exchange another blaze of leather and the crowd rises to their feet!! I can’t even hear myself talking… the sound is deafening!
Robinson rocks Jones with a left hook!
Jones with a booming right hand!
Robinson staggers back into the corner! He’s hurt! There’s the bell to end the 5th and Carlos Berrocal jumps between the fighters. Great, great round!
........................
Round 6
Roy Jones blocks a right hand from Ray Robinson. Jones scores with a hard right hand – right on the button. You can feel the momentum once again shifting towards Jones as it has many times already for him in this tournament.
Robinson misses with a left. Both fighters have slowed the pace down noticeably this round. Robinson has taken a few big shots over the last few rounds, but there’s no visible damage.
Jones lands another booming left hook! Oh, that shot sent sweat flying from Robinson’s head into the third row!
Robinson’s looking for the openings, but he’s just not connecting.
That’ll do it for round 6.
.................
Round 7
Robinson and Jones trade combinations. Nice way to open a round. Ray lands a left. Roy with a straight right hand. Roy takes a right hand high on the head. He was relaxing for the first time in this fight, letting his left hand drop below his waist and Robinson made him pay.
We’re just about at the midway point of this scheduled 15 rounder.
Roy scores to the body of Robinson with a hook. Ray Robinson returns fire – scoring well to the head.
They trade right hands at the bell!
A close round and difficult one to score.
.................
Round 8
Roy Jones Jr. – stringing together a beautiful salvo of punches! Robinson takes them well… but Robinson must be falling behind on the scorecards by now. He’s needs to start stepping it up! Another hard combination scores for Roy Jones Jr. Robinson seems to have been taken out of his rhythm. You can hear the buzz around the arena… we may be seeing a huge upset here tonight!
Jones scores with a left at the bell!
...............
Round 9
Robinson’s left eye is starting to swell noticeably! The camera went into his corner in between rounds and you could see the swelling. They’re out for the 9th! Jones lands a big hook that lands flush! Robinson scores with a right to the body.
Robinson lands a big right hand! Jones wobbles!! That punch hurt Roy Jones Jr.!!
Ray Robinson lands to the head and body! Ray Robinson’s got Roy Jones Jr. in trouble! Robinson scores with a combination! Robinson with another combination! He’s backed Jones into the corner!!
Ray Robinson lands a booming right hand at the bell! That was the best round, possibly in this fight, for Sugar Ray Robinson!
.................
Round 10
Robinson’s out fast for the 10th. He fires several rockets into Jones’ midsection. Jones took them well. Jones turns Robinson’s head with a screaming left hook! Robinson digs in and blasts a left hand off the side of Jones’ rib cage! They’re letting it fly now!
Another combination scores from Robinson! Robinson finished up with a hook to the head! He rocked Jones with that hook! Robinson blasts Jones with two hard rights to the head!!
Jones catches Ray with a booming right hand as Ray was moving in!
They’re trading their biggest guns in ring center as the bell ends the 10th! Wow, they were shooting it out as the 10th round came to its end!
.................
Round 11
We’re in the 11th. These are the championship rounds. Robinson is no stranger to 15 rounds. Roy Jones never had to go beyond the 12th during his career. But he looks to be in great shape. Robinson just rocked Jones with a hard right to the head!
Robinson scores with a hard right to the body!
Jones returns fire with a smoking combination to Robinson’s body!
Jones with another combination!!
Robinson hooks to the head.
Down goes Roy Jones, Jr!! That hook caught Jones flush on the chin and down he goes!
Wait... he's getting up
1
2
Jones is back on his feet! He looks a little groggy and referee Carlos Berrocal is taking a long close look at Jones.
Okay, he's going to let this one continue!
Here comes Robinson! Ray Robinson misses with a right hand. He scores with a combination downstairs... and there's the bell!
Ray Robinson's turning up the heat - here in the championship rounds.
They’re working on Jones in the corner. You can see the swelling now appearing around his left eye. That was a big round for Ray Robinson. It’ll be interesting to see if he can turn this fight around.
....................
Round 12
Both fighters seem tired as we’re underway in the 12th. Robinson and Jones are both dealing with swelling around their eyes. Jones lands first. Jones with a heavy combination downstairs. Those punches backed Robinson up. Ray lands a hook upstairs. Jones took it well. Jones scores with a right… Robinson scores with a right hand of his own.
They tie up along the ropes. Carlos Berrocal comes and separates them.
They’re both moving slow. And they clinch again. No boos coming from the crowd, though. Robinson and Jones are keeping the fans on the edge of their seats tonight!
That’ll do it for the 12th!
.................
Round 13
Jones and Robinson are both dealing with noticeable swelling around their left eyes round thirteen gets underway. Roy Jones scores to the body. Robinson scores with a right hand to the head. Jones scores with an uppercut, Robinson counters with a straight left!
Roy Jones nails Ray with a booming hook! Jones with another left to the body! Robinson lands a right hand upstairs!
The bell ends the 13th, and they’re standing toe-to-toe as the round ends! I’d give that round to Roy Jones. There are only two rounds left. The winner of this fight moves to the finals. It’s all on the line with only six minutes remaining!
........................
Round 14
Robinson and Jones are out fast for the 14th round. They exchange right hands. Nice clean punches, no clear advantage to either fight. Jones lands a nice right hand from the outside. They're circling one another.
Robinson steps in with a hard right hand to the body. Jones counters upstairs with a combination... Robinson counters Jones counters with a blazing hook, uppercut!
The crowd's mesmerized by the skills of these two fighters!! Jones scores with a hard right to the head of Robinson!
Robinson scores with a hard left to the head of Jones! Everyone's on their feet cheering wildly as Robinson and Jones bring down the house!!
There's the bell and that'll do it for the 14th round. Only one round remaining... and you've gotta wonder how the judges have been scoring this fight. Robinson may be behind and the whole tournament is riding on this final round for these two fighters!
Looking back over the past rounds and I don’t know… Roy Jones Jr. may just be looking at the ultimate upset – defeating Ray Robinson on points with only 3 minutes to go.
.................
Round 15
Carlos Berrocal has Sugar Ray Robinson and Roy Jones Jr. touch gloves in ring center for this – the 15th and final round of their amazing matchup tonight!
Roy Jones lands a hard right cross! That shot wobbles Robinson momentarily! Robinson scores with a left to the midsection. Roy Jones rips Robinson’s head back with a booming uppercut! Jones scores with a hard right to Robinson’s head! Roy Jones is bringing on the pain in the 15th and final round!
Ray Robinson slips a hook and snaps Jones’ head back with a hard uppercut on the inside! Robinson blasts a blur of punches off Jones’ body!!
Jones nails Roy Jones with a hard hook to the head. The crowd’s on its feet for the final shootout of the night!!
Robinson nails Jones with a big left hook on the chin!
Robinson with another hook!
Robinson with another!!!
Jones is hurt!! Jones is hurt!!
Robinson rips Jones with a huge right hand to the head! Jones staggers back against the ropes! Robinson scores with a combination! Robinson scores with another combination! Robinson is raining punch after punch after punch down up Jones!!
Jones hands are coming down! Robinson rips into Jones with a left… two rights, another left… Robinson with an uppercut!! Jones can no longer defend himself!! Robinson lands punch after punch after punch!!
That’s it!!
Berrocal jumps in as Jones is out on his feet!! Two seconds left in the round and Sugar Ray Robinson has stopped Roy Jones Jr. in the 15th and final round!
I can hardly believe my eyes! What an incredible finish by one of the greatest fighters to ever step through the ropes!
We’ll be back in just a moment!
..............
I just had a moment to check out the scorecards of the judges at ringside. One had Robinson up by 2 rounds going into the 15th. Another had Jones ahead by 5 rounds. And the last judge had Jones ahead by one round!
We were looking at a majority draw had Jones been able to survive the round. The referee Carlos Berrocal could have stopped the fight a little sooner than he did and no one would have complained, though. Jones collapsed in the corner as soon as Berrocal halted this fight. He was definitely OUT.
This fight does nothing short of adding to the legend of P4P King, Ray Robinson.
What a great finish to this fight!
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Sugar Ray Robinson vs. Roy Jones, Jr.
........................................
There’s electricity in the air tonight as the referee Carlos Berrocal sends Robinson and Jones back to their respective corners… we are moments away from one of the most anticipated fights of the past month of this tournament.
And there’s the bell!
Round 1
Robinson and Jones meet in center ring. Ray goes to the body. That punch was caught on the arm by Roy Jones. Jones doubles up with the jab. The second one gets through! Robinson slips a right and scores with a straight left. Robinson strikes with a fast two punch combination and Jones misses with the counter!
They’re trading punches! Blazing speed on display by both fighters!
You can see the intensity in their eyes. Both men feinting and moving – looking for openings.
There’s the bell. That’ll do it for a very close opening round!
............
Round 2
Ray Robinson opens up the 2nd round with a hard, fast left to the head of Jones. Robinson can strike like a cobra at times… and so can Jones. A hard combination from Ray Robinson jolts Roy Jones! Jones fires back but Robinson was already out of range. You can see a little smile on Jones face. He felt those punches.
Robinson scores well with a combination to the body! Ray Robinson with a right to the head!
That’ll do it for the 2nd. Good round for Ray Robinson.
Neither fighter is marked. Each round is like a suspense novel right now… wondering how this one is going to play out.
We’ll be back for the 3rd in just a moment.
..............
Round 3
Welcome to the 3rd… and Roy Jones snaps Robinson’s head back with a hard jab! Robinson misses with a hook and Jones connects with a uppercut that lands flush. Robinson smiles at Jones. He felt that one.
Jones rips Robinson to the body with a savage combination!! Oh! Another big right lands to the head! Robinson wobbles!!
Robinson fires back with a four-punch combination!!
The fans are roaring their approval! And there’s the bell to end the 3rd round.
If we look at that replay again… look at those punches to Robinson’s body! Roy Jones Jr. threw those punches with some bad intentions and I’m surprised Robinson didn’t at least drop to a knee after taking those thunderous shots!
We’ll be back in just a moment.
.............
Round 4
Roy Jones and Ray Robinson are starting to light it up out there. We’ve got a long way to go… but maybe not! We’re in the 4th. Roy with a cracking right hand!! Robinson seemed a little surprised by that last shot! Jones has the power to Robinson’s attention. We’ve established that, now.
Jones with a huge right hand!
Robinson counters with a left to the body. Robinson absorbed that punch without buckling somehow. He can’t keep taking that shots all night without getting into trouble, though!
Robinson goes to the body.
Roy Jones scores with a fast combination downstairs at the bell! Another good round for Jones.
.............
Round 5
Roy Jones Jr. backs Robinson up with a blazing combination of punches to the head and body! It seems like Jones’ unnatural speed is giving Ray Robinson some problems! Jones rocks Robinson with a hard right hand and Robinson ties him up! Here comes Carlos Berrocal to separate them. He’s had hardly nothing to do tonight so far.
Robinson scores with a fast right hand over the top.
That punch wobbled Jones!! Robinson scores with a combination to the body! They exchange another blaze of leather and the crowd rises to their feet!! I can’t even hear myself talking… the sound is deafening!
Robinson rocks Jones with a left hook!
Jones with a booming right hand!
Robinson staggers back into the corner! He’s hurt! There’s the bell to end the 5th and Carlos Berrocal jumps between the fighters. Great, great round!
........................
Round 6
Roy Jones blocks a right hand from Ray Robinson. Jones scores with a hard right hand – right on the button. You can feel the momentum once again shifting towards Jones as it has many times already for him in this tournament.
Robinson misses with a left. Both fighters have slowed the pace down noticeably this round. Robinson has taken a few big shots over the last few rounds, but there’s no visible damage.
Jones lands another booming left hook! Oh, that shot sent sweat flying from Robinson’s head into the third row!
Robinson’s looking for the openings, but he’s just not connecting.
That’ll do it for round 6.
.................
Round 7
Robinson and Jones trade combinations. Nice way to open a round. Ray lands a left. Roy with a straight right hand. Roy takes a right hand high on the head. He was relaxing for the first time in this fight, letting his left hand drop below his waist and Robinson made him pay.
We’re just about at the midway point of this scheduled 15 rounder.
Roy scores to the body of Robinson with a hook. Ray Robinson returns fire – scoring well to the head.
They trade right hands at the bell!
A close round and difficult one to score.
.................
Round 8
Roy Jones Jr. – stringing together a beautiful salvo of punches! Robinson takes them well… but Robinson must be falling behind on the scorecards by now. He’s needs to start stepping it up! Another hard combination scores for Roy Jones Jr. Robinson seems to have been taken out of his rhythm. You can hear the buzz around the arena… we may be seeing a huge upset here tonight!
Jones scores with a left at the bell!
...............
Round 9
Robinson’s left eye is starting to swell noticeably! The camera went into his corner in between rounds and you could see the swelling. They’re out for the 9th! Jones lands a big hook that lands flush! Robinson scores with a right to the body.
Robinson lands a big right hand! Jones wobbles!! That punch hurt Roy Jones Jr.!!
Ray Robinson lands to the head and body! Ray Robinson’s got Roy Jones Jr. in trouble! Robinson scores with a combination! Robinson with another combination! He’s backed Jones into the corner!!
Ray Robinson lands a booming right hand at the bell! That was the best round, possibly in this fight, for Sugar Ray Robinson!
.................
Round 10
Robinson’s out fast for the 10th. He fires several rockets into Jones’ midsection. Jones took them well. Jones turns Robinson’s head with a screaming left hook! Robinson digs in and blasts a left hand off the side of Jones’ rib cage! They’re letting it fly now!
Another combination scores from Robinson! Robinson finished up with a hook to the head! He rocked Jones with that hook! Robinson blasts Jones with two hard rights to the head!!
Jones catches Ray with a booming right hand as Ray was moving in!
They’re trading their biggest guns in ring center as the bell ends the 10th! Wow, they were shooting it out as the 10th round came to its end!
.................
Round 11
We’re in the 11th. These are the championship rounds. Robinson is no stranger to 15 rounds. Roy Jones never had to go beyond the 12th during his career. But he looks to be in great shape. Robinson just rocked Jones with a hard right to the head!
Robinson scores with a hard right to the body!
Jones returns fire with a smoking combination to Robinson’s body!
Jones with another combination!!
Robinson hooks to the head.
Down goes Roy Jones, Jr!! That hook caught Jones flush on the chin and down he goes!
Wait... he's getting up
1
2
Jones is back on his feet! He looks a little groggy and referee Carlos Berrocal is taking a long close look at Jones.
Okay, he's going to let this one continue!
Here comes Robinson! Ray Robinson misses with a right hand. He scores with a combination downstairs... and there's the bell!
Ray Robinson's turning up the heat - here in the championship rounds.
They’re working on Jones in the corner. You can see the swelling now appearing around his left eye. That was a big round for Ray Robinson. It’ll be interesting to see if he can turn this fight around.
....................
Round 12
Both fighters seem tired as we’re underway in the 12th. Robinson and Jones are both dealing with swelling around their eyes. Jones lands first. Jones with a heavy combination downstairs. Those punches backed Robinson up. Ray lands a hook upstairs. Jones took it well. Jones scores with a right… Robinson scores with a right hand of his own.
They tie up along the ropes. Carlos Berrocal comes and separates them.
They’re both moving slow. And they clinch again. No boos coming from the crowd, though. Robinson and Jones are keeping the fans on the edge of their seats tonight!
That’ll do it for the 12th!
.................
Round 13
Jones and Robinson are both dealing with noticeable swelling around their left eyes round thirteen gets underway. Roy Jones scores to the body. Robinson scores with a right hand to the head. Jones scores with an uppercut, Robinson counters with a straight left!
Roy Jones nails Ray with a booming hook! Jones with another left to the body! Robinson lands a right hand upstairs!
The bell ends the 13th, and they’re standing toe-to-toe as the round ends! I’d give that round to Roy Jones. There are only two rounds left. The winner of this fight moves to the finals. It’s all on the line with only six minutes remaining!
........................
Round 14
Robinson and Jones are out fast for the 14th round. They exchange right hands. Nice clean punches, no clear advantage to either fight. Jones lands a nice right hand from the outside. They're circling one another.
Robinson steps in with a hard right hand to the body. Jones counters upstairs with a combination... Robinson counters Jones counters with a blazing hook, uppercut!
The crowd's mesmerized by the skills of these two fighters!! Jones scores with a hard right to the head of Robinson!
Robinson scores with a hard left to the head of Jones! Everyone's on their feet cheering wildly as Robinson and Jones bring down the house!!
There's the bell and that'll do it for the 14th round. Only one round remaining... and you've gotta wonder how the judges have been scoring this fight. Robinson may be behind and the whole tournament is riding on this final round for these two fighters!
Looking back over the past rounds and I don’t know… Roy Jones Jr. may just be looking at the ultimate upset – defeating Ray Robinson on points with only 3 minutes to go.
.................
Round 15
Carlos Berrocal has Sugar Ray Robinson and Roy Jones Jr. touch gloves in ring center for this – the 15th and final round of their amazing matchup tonight!
Roy Jones lands a hard right cross! That shot wobbles Robinson momentarily! Robinson scores with a left to the midsection. Roy Jones rips Robinson’s head back with a booming uppercut! Jones scores with a hard right to Robinson’s head! Roy Jones is bringing on the pain in the 15th and final round!
Ray Robinson slips a hook and snaps Jones’ head back with a hard uppercut on the inside! Robinson blasts a blur of punches off Jones’ body!!
Jones nails Roy Jones with a hard hook to the head. The crowd’s on its feet for the final shootout of the night!!
Robinson nails Jones with a big left hook on the chin!
Robinson with another hook!
Robinson with another!!!
Jones is hurt!! Jones is hurt!!
Robinson rips Jones with a huge right hand to the head! Jones staggers back against the ropes! Robinson scores with a combination! Robinson scores with another combination! Robinson is raining punch after punch after punch down up Jones!!
Jones hands are coming down! Robinson rips into Jones with a left… two rights, another left… Robinson with an uppercut!! Jones can no longer defend himself!! Robinson lands punch after punch after punch!!
That’s it!!
Berrocal jumps in as Jones is out on his feet!! Two seconds left in the round and Sugar Ray Robinson has stopped Roy Jones Jr. in the 15th and final round!
I can hardly believe my eyes! What an incredible finish by one of the greatest fighters to ever step through the ropes!
We’ll be back in just a moment!
..............
I just had a moment to check out the scorecards of the judges at ringside. One had Robinson up by 2 rounds going into the 15th. Another had Jones ahead by 5 rounds. And the last judge had Jones ahead by one round!
We were looking at a majority draw had Jones been able to survive the round. The referee Carlos Berrocal could have stopped the fight a little sooner than he did and no one would have complained, though. Jones collapsed in the corner as soon as Berrocal halted this fight. He was definitely OUT.
This fight does nothing short of adding to the legend of P4P King, Ray Robinson.
What a great finish to this fight!
French sports writers hauled out all their adjectives today to praise Welterweight Champion Sugar Ray Robinson for his second-round technical knockout victory over France's Jean Stock in a non-title match Monday night.
Robinson dynamited the "Rock" Jean Stock without even mussing his hair. Robinson, the prodigious champion, made Stock "disappear in less than two rounds" the sporting paper L'Equipe headlined.
"It is a god of the ring we saw last night" Le Parisien's sports wroter said. "Robinson is a fighter unique of his kind, a sort of scared monster of the ring of fearful power, speed and punch."
Stock, himself, said the left to the head which Robinson landed in the first round was "the hardest punch I have ever felt." - "After that I couldn't breathe and didn't even know where I was" Stock added.
The Paris correspondent of The LondonDaily Telegraph appeared more interested in the fate of Robinson's future European opponents. He said a society for the prevention of cruelty should stop Robinson from fighting any current European talent "in the interests of humanity".
(The Pittsburgh Press - Nov 29, 1950)
Robinson dynamited the "Rock" Jean Stock without even mussing his hair. Robinson, the prodigious champion, made Stock "disappear in less than two rounds" the sporting paper L'Equipe headlined.
"It is a god of the ring we saw last night" Le Parisien's sports wroter said. "Robinson is a fighter unique of his kind, a sort of scared monster of the ring of fearful power, speed and punch."
Stock, himself, said the left to the head which Robinson landed in the first round was "the hardest punch I have ever felt." - "After that I couldn't breathe and didn't even know where I was" Stock added.
The Paris correspondent of The LondonDaily Telegraph appeared more interested in the fate of Robinson's future European opponents. He said a society for the prevention of cruelty should stop Robinson from fighting any current European talent "in the interests of humanity".
(The Pittsburgh Press - Nov 29, 1950)
1966...former world champion Sonny Liston, was now living and boxing in Sweden, and was preparing for a fight when a new sparring partner was brought in...none other than the lesser-known, lesser-talented younger brother of Floyd Patterson....Ray Patterson......Ray never did that much as a boxer at world level....but that day, behind closed doors, the younger brother of the man who was beaten twice in one round in world heavyweight title fights by Liston, did this...
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