Robinson was so gracious and humble. Listen to the way he complimented Basilio and the matter of fact way he spoke about his job. Contrast that with the hubris displayed by modern boxers and MMA assholes. Besides being a better human being, Sugar Ray Robinson AND Carmen Basilio could have given their modern counterparts some fine boxing lessons. I'd take either of them over most of the champions in their weight class today.
It's a surprise to hear SRR being so complimentary towards Basilio. By all accounts, they had a genuine dislike of each other. It was just a different time and civility prevailed regardless
Robinson was almost 40 years old at the time of this fight and had almost TWO HUNDRED FIGHTS. He was clearly past his prime but he still had enough left to beat Basilio and be the middleweight champ. It makes you marvel at how great Robinson was at his peak in the 1940’s, when he won over EIGHTY CONSECUTIVE fights!
Basilio was one of 10 children born in Canastota, New York, to Italian immigrants. His father worked on onion fields to earn a living. When Carmen dropped out of high school he had no real interest in doing anything other than becoming a professional fighter. After a spell in the US marines, for whom he boxed during the second world war, he made his professional debut in 1948.
When i was 15 years my father(he was a boxer 100 and more fight with usa military boxers during last war in naples/ and after teached me a boxe( 1962) and i remember a famous magazine boxe ring thats tell about ) robinson/ basilio/ mitri vs jack la motta etc legendary times great champions really strong......in italy tv talk only about the foot ball( zero italians 🙃🙃
It almost looked to me, like Sugar Ray took his foot off the gas a little, when he saw how bad that eye was looking. Watch his jabs at the first of the fight, and then after the eye starts blowing up on basilio, the jabs are half speed. With an occasional hard shot to keep him honest. Anyone else see that as well? Regardless....what great fighters these guys were. The golden age of boxing was truly that.
That one judge (REFEREE) who happened to be closest to the fighters, was either racist, or must have been smokin crack, drinkin' beer, and shooting up heroin to give the fight to Basilio. WTF was he thinking. Was he reffing and watching the same fight or what? Basilio took an obvious beating, and i mean badly too. Ref scored it 69-66 to Basilio. WTF man!
Interesting you say this. I thought from the highlights Robinson won the first fight…as I did with the first Fullmer fight. Interesting in the second fight they commented about Fullmer’s rabbit punches… which when I watched the highlights of the first fight I thought he did a lot of that, but maybe it was cool in them days. Apparently not…and he was warned against it in the 2nd fight. In each case, I thought Ray was robbed, even though I was just watching as a history buff of boxing. I had no dog in the fight. Seems Ray had to knock these two guys out to win the first time around.
What comes to my mind listening to these athletes is that came over as much more humble and symphathetic then todays fighters
Most athletes were back then
That's a big part of why they were so beloved
Until Mohammad Ali and pro wrestling made it necessary to trash talk if you want to sell tickets and ppvs
Very true @@TheMatrixofMeaning
You beat me to the punch there, Didier!!! I was about to print tbe same observation!
The way they were raised in those days.
Basilio was not a heavy knockout puncher, nor was he a stylish, slick boxer. But he was a damned good fighter and a really tough, determined guy.
He fought like Henry Armstrong. He was strong. He knocked out Tony DeMarco and Bratton.
Basilio was world champ twice, they do not box like that anymore. He was honest and it was a pleasure knowing him.
Both great boxers
When robinson became champ
Both fights are great
Robinson was so gracious and humble. Listen to the way he complimented Basilio and the matter of fact way he spoke about his job. Contrast that with the hubris displayed by modern boxers and MMA assholes. Besides being a better human being, Sugar Ray Robinson AND Carmen Basilio could have given their modern counterparts some fine boxing lessons. I'd take either of them over most of the champions in their weight class today.
Sugar Ray was a different league. He could prob fight the top 5 today all in one week and win every single fight
It's a surprise to hear SRR being so complimentary towards Basilio. By all accounts, they had a genuine dislike of each other. It was just a different time and civility prevailed regardless
You are correct.
Robinson was almost 40 years old at the time of this fight and had almost TWO HUNDRED FIGHTS. He was clearly past his prime but he still had enough left to beat Basilio and be the middleweight champ. It makes you marvel at how great Robinson was at his peak in the 1940’s, when he won over EIGHTY CONSECUTIVE fights!
Sugar's the GOAT, but Carmen sure liked a scrap
Sugar Ray Robinson was one of the greatest, but I you have to tip your cap to Carmen Basilio!! He was one tough cookie!!
I'd never seen Basilio before these two fights with Robinson, what a great fighter he was.
Thanks for the video, THE BOXING VAULT
The REAL 'Sugar Ray'. These are the 'heroes' kids looked up to in 'the old days'. Two gentlemen warriors right there!
Basilio was one of 10 children born in Canastota, New York, to Italian immigrants. His father worked on onion fields to earn a living. When Carmen dropped out of high school he had no real interest in doing anything other than becoming a professional fighter. After a spell in the US marines, for whom he boxed during the second world war, he made his professional debut in 1948.
I always thought Basilio won this rematch with Robinson. I believe Basilio sued the boxing commission for the decision.
When i was 15 years my father(he was a boxer 100 and more fight with usa military boxers during last war in naples/ and after teached me a boxe( 1962) and i remember a famous magazine boxe ring thats tell about ) robinson/ basilio/ mitri vs jack la motta etc legendary times great champions really strong......in italy tv talk only about the foot ball( zero italians 🙃🙃
It almost looked to me, like Sugar Ray took his foot off the gas a little, when he saw how bad that eye was looking. Watch his jabs at the first of the fight, and then after the eye starts blowing up on basilio, the jabs are half speed. With an occasional hard shot to keep him honest. Anyone else see that as well? Regardless....what great fighters these guys were. The golden age of boxing was truly that.
That one judge (REFEREE) who happened to be closest to the fighters, was either racist, or must have been smokin crack, drinkin' beer, and shooting up heroin to give the fight to Basilio. WTF was he thinking. Was he reffing and watching the same fight or what? Basilio took an obvious beating, and i mean badly too. Ref scored it 69-66 to Basilio. WTF man!
Basilio should have gotten that decision too
@@MichaelMancuso-v2sNo Robinson won both fights
Even one crooked judge couldn't stop Sugar Ray
That was not fair dececion at all
🙁💬 I hate when one has to lose 🤠💭 Yup❕ ☑
Neither fight was close. Robinson won 27 of the 30 rounds.
@Sil 33 You're on crack.
@@thespy7795 😂😅😂😅😂😘😂😅
Interesting you say this. I thought from the highlights Robinson won the first fight…as I did with the first Fullmer fight. Interesting in the second fight they commented about Fullmer’s rabbit punches… which when I watched the highlights of the first fight I thought he did a lot of that, but maybe it was cool in them days. Apparently not…and he was warned against it in the 2nd fight. In each case, I thought Ray was robbed, even though I was just watching as a history buff of boxing. I had no dog in the fight. Seems Ray had to knock these two guys out to win the first time around.
They were close. Both fights were split decision victories.
@@sparkspark2314boxing has been corrupt for a very, very long time.
Jeez, what was the referee thinking, tough as teak though the two of them.
Basilio was bad weather
Today's fighter couldn't cope with these guy's.