Presents:
Sugar Ray Robinson vs. Carmen Basillio
September 23, 1957
This audio CD of the original radio broadcast brings you the classic encounter between world welterweight champion Carmen Basilio and defending world middleweight champion Sugar Ray Robinson, greatest fighter, pound-for-pound in all boxing history. A truly great fight - one of boxing's classics.
Sugar Ray Robinson was a phenomenal teen-aged amateur, winning all 85 of his bouts, 69 by knockout, 40 in the first round. Turning pro in 1940, Sugar Ray was the top-ranked welterweight contender by the end 1941.
The uncrowned champ for years, Robinson beat every welterweight who dared face him, finally winning the world title by out pointing Tommy Bell in 1946. Robinson moved up to the middleweight division in 1950.
By the summer of 1957, Sugar Ray won that title a remarkable four times, defeating Jake LaMotta, Randy Turpin, Carl (Bobo) Olson, and Gene Fullmer.
Robinson could do it all -- box, punch, duck, move and even take it when he had to. Robinson could and did throw every punch in the book -- all from multiple angles. He was the only fighter in history who could deliver a knockout punch while backing up.
In the words of Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Robinson was, indeed, “the greatest.”
Carmen Basilio, turned pro in 1948 and won the world welterweight title by stopping Tony DeMarco in 1955. He lost that title on a controversial decision to Johnny Saxton, but regained it with a savage TKO just six months later.
Shorter than Ray Robinson by almost five inches, Basilio had a tendency to cut. Certainly he was no master of the art of self defense.
Basilio had a good left hook, but not terrific punching power. A game and gutsy fighter with an enviable record.
But, could he beat the great Sugar Ray Robinson?
Many said yes, actually making the 30-year-old Basilio a 7-5 favorite over the 36-year-old Robinson when they met in Yankee Stadium on the night of September 23, 1957.
40,000 people in attendance saw a night of ferocious action, suspense, and pure guts equaled by few contests in the history of boxing.
Bringing this great fight to millions of listeners was the incomparable blow-by-blow commentator, Don Dunphy. Working with Don Dunphy was that great sports commentator, Win Elliot, known to hockey fans as the “Voice of the New York Rangers.” He would be offering between round wrap-ups and analyses.
Sugar Ray’s professional record prior to this bout with Basilio showed 140 wins, 5 defeats, 2 draws, and one “no contest” with an incredible 91 knockouts.
Basilio, six years younger, entered the ring with 51 wins, 12 losses, and seven draws with 25 knockouts.
The only advantages Carmen seemed to have was youth and toughness. In boxing, however, numbers seldom tell the story.
About PRIME TIME BOXING
Programming that cannot be duplicated or found anywhere else, PRIME TIME BOXING features the legendary Don Dunphy, the all-time most dynamic and knowledgeable boxing commentator describing the most exciting and memorable fights of Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, Rocky Marciano, Sugar Ray Robinson and all the other great champions.
Through the incredible magic of the original radio broadcasts listeners will be able to "see" the fights for the first time - in the theater of their mind! A magical replay of exciting sports history presented on audio CD, PRIME TIME BOXING includes the greatest fights ever, including many that have never been filmed or broadcast on TV.
