Poyningsgull
Well-known member
- Apr 12, 2007
- 1,639
What a fighter. One of only two to defeat the great Sugar Ray Robinson.
RIP you were great to watch.
RIP you were great to watch.
What a fighter. One of only two to defeat the great Sugar Ray Robinson.
RIP you were great to watch.
Downes said he didn’t beat Robinson, he beat the ghost of Robinson as he was 41 at the time of their fight. Downes certainly achieved a lot considering he only boxed for 8 or 9 years. World Champion for 10 months and wins over 3 reigning or former World Champs in Robinson, Paul Pender and Joey Giardello. RIP
What a fighter. One of only two to defeat the great Sugar Ray Robinson.
RIP you were great to watch.
It was listen for me, not watch. Commentary by Eamon Andrews with inter-round summaries by W. Barrington-Dalby - ah yes, I remember it well (I think!)
Anyway, RIP.
What a fighter. One of only two to defeat the great Sugar Ray Robinson.
Indeed. Like Mayweather beat the ghost of Pacquiao.One of the most impressive scalps of Downes' 8-year career was that of*Sugar Ray Robinson*in the autumn of 1962. Robinson was, however, 41 at the time, and when asked after the fight how it felt to beat a boxer of such esteem, Downes famously replied, "I didn't beat Sugar Ray, I beat his ghost."[citation needed]
That's the mark of a true fighter the likes of which we don't see today..very humble.
Not to denigrate the legacy of a truly great boxer, but he lost to a lot more than that - Randy Turpin, Joey Maxim, Gene Fullmer, Carmen Basilio and Paul Pender for starters - and these weren't just at the end of his career either, all were before he fought Downes.
Was just going to post the quote from Wikipedia. .......
One of the most impressive scalps of Downes' 8-year career was that of*Sugar Ray Robinson*in the autumn of 1962. Robinson was, however, 41 at the time, and when asked after the fight how it felt to beat a boxer of such esteem, Downes famously replied, "I didn't beat Sugar Ray, I beat his ghost."[citation needed]
That's the mark of a true fighter the likes of which we don't see today..very humble. I didn't know but he served in the USMC as teenager no doubt a good grounding for his subsequent career.
Downes was famous for a number of quips. After a particularly brutal fight early in his career against Dick Tiger, Downes was asked who he wanted to fight next. He replied, "The ******* who made this match", in reference to his manager at the time, Mickey Duff.[6]
Indeed. Like Mayweather beat the ghost of Pacquiao.
I also liked this quote from Wikipedia
Sugar Ray Robinson did lose 19 times mostly at the end of his career, including his loss to Downes.What a fighter. One of only two to defeat the great Sugar Ray Robinson.
RIP you were great to watch.
Did he go into being a trainer/manager,maybe Frank Bruno ?
Did he go into being a trainer/manager,maybe Frank Bruno ?