RANDY TURPIN

Birthdate: June 7, 1928
Birthplace: Leamington, England
Date of death: May 17, 1966
Nickname: The Leamington Licker
Weight classes: Middleweight, light heavyweight
Professional record: 66-8-1 (45 knockouts)
Title held: World middleweight (July 10, 1951-Sept. 12, 1951)
Best performances: Ray Robinson (W 15), Don Cockell (KO 1), Charles Humez (W 15), Albert Finch (KO 5), Alex Buxton (KO 7, KO 2, KO 5), George Angelo (W 15), Luc Van Dam (KO 1), Jan du Bruin (KO 6).
Year of IBHOF induction:2001
Background: Followed older brother Dick Turpin into boxing at the age of 9 and had already fought 100 amateur bouts by the time he was 15 … At age 17 he became the youngest ever and first black boxer to win an ABA championship … Turned pro in September 1946 and went undefeated in his first 17 bouts before losses to Albert Finch and Jean Stock in ’48 stalled his progress … Returned after a five-month layoff and racked up 21 straight wins, including knockouts of Finch to win the British middleweight title and Luc Van Dam to capture the vacant European 160-pound crown … Upset Sugar Ray Robinson in July ’51 to win the world middleweight championship via 15-round decision as 18,000 fans whooped it up at Earl’s Court in London … “I have no alibi,” said Robinson. “I was beaten by the better man.” … Contractually obligated to give Robinson a rematch, they fought again two months later in front of a record crowd of 61,370 at the Polo Grounds … The fight was even going into the 10th round, but when Robinson suffered a dangerous eye cut he launches a desperate attack and stopped Turpin with just eight seconds left in the round … Rebounded by winning the vacant British Empire light heavyweight title in a June ’52 bout with Don Cockell and the vacant Empire middleweight title against George Angelo in October … Lost 15-round decision to Bobo Olson in October ’53 for the middleweight world championship, which had become vacant when Robinson retired in December ’52 … Although Turpin regained the British 175-pound title and made two more successful defenses, his powers were fading and he retired after suffering a KO loss to Yolande Pompey in September ’58 … Financial difficulties forced a return in ’63, but after two more fights, he quit for good in ’64 … High living and poor investments had taken all of his boxing money and he briefly turned to wrestling … Also worked in a junkyard and rn a small transport café with his wife … Dunned by the Inland Revenue for unpaid taxes and depressed at his fall from grace, the 37-year-old Turpin committed suicide by gunshot in 1966 … Fifth years after his victory over Robinson, a statue in his honor was erected in Warwick.