On this day: Sugar Ray Robinson silenced the doubters with a big victory over a fighter who pushed him very close in their first encounter.
In his prime, the American was nothing short of sensational, amazing spectators with his lightning hands and relentless will to win.
Robinson won Fighter of the Year in 1951, conquered five weight divisions and eventually ended up with a spot in the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
He achieved many a big victory throughout his career, with a particular contest against a formidable foe standing out as one of his best.
WOW: Sugar Ray Robinson had his 90-fight unbeaten streak snapped in shocking upset loss
Sugar Ray Robinson beat Kid Gavilan to defend his world titles
On July 11, 1949, Sugar Ray Robinson went to war with Kid Gavilan for the second time inside the Municipal Stadium in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
With his NYSAC, NBA, and Ring Magazine titles on the line, the legend knew he needed a big performance, especially after their first fight.
While most at ringside felt Robinson deserved the victory, fans in the rest of the stadium thought that a late surge from Gavilan was enough to get the job done.
Starting from where he left off, the Cuban swept the first four rounds, but then, Robinson came into his own.
The icon showcased greatness, peppering his opponent with classy shots, en route to winning a decision after 15 rounds.
Sugar Ray Robinson got dropped in sparring after taking a ‘right hand to the jaw’
Gavilan isn’t the only person who’s given Robinson trouble over the years.
At his best, the all-time great was almost flawless inside the ring.
However, in order to get to that standard, he had to put in the hard work behind the scenes, often having very tough sessions.
On one occasion, Robinson was dropped in sparring by a surprise star.