Celebrating Black History Month: Sugar Ray Robinson
Often considered the greatest pound-for-pound fighter of all time, Sugar Ray Robinson ruled over the 147- and 155-pound divisions for two decades and fought six career-defining fights against Jake LaMotta, later immortalized in the Martin Scorsese feature Raging Bull.
Celebrating Black History Month: Sugar Ray Leonard
Of all the greats of an incredibly deep talent pool in the 1980s, Sugar Ray Leonard stood above them all. With wins over Roberto Duran, Wilfred Benitez, Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler, Leonard reigned as the king of the 147-pound division—not to mention the titles he held at 154, 160, 168 and 175 pounds.
Celebrating Black History Month: Joe Gans
His nickname was the “Old Master,” but Joe Gans is best known for breaking new ground. In 1902, Gans became boxing’s first African-American world champion when he claimed the 135-pound title, which he defended through 1908.
Celebrating Black History Month: George Foreman
With a crushing knockout of Michael Moorer, 19 years his junior, George Foreman became the oldest heavyweight champion in boxing history on November 5, 1994. The win capped a remarkable career in which Foreman regained the title 21 years after first winning it.
Celebrating Black History Month: Sonny Liston
On the occasion of Sonny Liston’s vicious, first-round knockout of popular heavyweight champ Floyd Patterson in 1962, Larry Merchant, then editor of the Philadelphia Daily News wrote, “In a fair fight between good and evil, evil must win.”
Celebrating Black History Month: Joe Frazier
Fearless and relentless, Joe Frazier was a Philadelphia-born pugilistic machine who embodied every hard-nosed, blue-collar trait that defined the city of his birth. Running on the streets of the city and punching sides of beef to prepare for a fight? Long before there was Rocky Balboa, there was Frazier.
Celebrating Black History Month: Evander Holyfield
From the time he won bronze in the 1984 Olympics, Evander “The Real Deal” Holyfield was poised to become one of the dominant figures in boxing for nearly two decades.
Celebrating Black History Month: Thomas Hearns
To be the best you’ve got to beat the best, and beat them Thomas "The Hitman” Hearns did across an astonishing five weight classes in one of the deepest eras in boxing history. And if he didn’t beat them, he at least gave his opponent the fight of his life.
