{"id":738450,"date":"2026-08-15T03:56:09","date_gmt":"2026-08-15T03:56:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/738450\/"},"modified":"2026-08-15T03:56:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-15T03:56:09","slug":"sugar-ray-robinson-once-revealed-the-only-fighter-that-was-even-better-than-him","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/738450\/","title":{"rendered":"Sugar Ray Robinson Once Revealed The Only Fighter That Was Even Better Than Him"},"content":{"rendered":"

The legendary Sugar Ray Robinson<\/a> once named the only fighter that he believes was better than him in a surprising admission.<\/p>\n

In a decorated professional career that spanned a quarter of a decade<\/a>, Robinson racked up just over 200 bouts including an outstanding 174 victories, with 109 of these coming via knockout.<\/p>\n

Robinson reigned as the world welterweight champion for five years between 1946 and 1951<\/a>, making a handful of successful defences of his crown against the likes of Jimmy Doyle, Bernard Docusen and Kid Gavilan.<\/p>\n

He later made the move up to middleweight and would capture the world title on five occasions within a nine-year period, defeating the likes of Randolph Turpin, Jake LaMotta, Gene Fullmer and Rocky Graziano during his reigns.<\/p>\n

Despite his incredible legacy, Robinson once revealed that there was one man in particular that was even greater than him in a claim which may come as a surprise to fans around the globe.<\/p>\n

In an interview with Cornerman Boxing<\/a>, Roberto Duran shared details of a conversation that took place between his own son and Robinson, where he claims the boxing icon said Duran was a better fighter than him.<\/p>\n

\u201cYes, that was a fight I believe in Los Angeles, but he said that, Sugar Ray Robinson, to my son while I was in the ring fighting, and he said \u2018Him right there, he\u2019s better than me\u2019, my son replied \u2018Who are you?\u2019 [he said] \u2018I\u2019m Sugar Ray Robinson\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2018Him, he\u2019s better than me\u2019 he told my son. For me it is satisfying that a great amongst the greats said it. That bigs me up because he\u2019s considering me even greater than he was.\u201d<\/p>\n

Duran played a key role during one of the sports greatest era\u2019s during the 1980s, a decade that was dominated by the Panamanian icon and former rivals Sugar Ray Leonard, Thomas Hearns and Marvin Hagler, who were better known as \u2018The Four Kings\u2019.<\/p>\n

\u2018Hands of Stone\u2019 captured world titles in five weight classes during his career, including a reign as the undisputed lightweight champion which he captured with a victory over Esteban de Jesus back in January 1978.<\/p>\n