Sugar Ray Robinson

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The term “pound for pound” was coined for Robinson, the finest practitioner of the Sweet Science (along with featherweight champ Willie Pep) during the 1940s and arguably the most popular fighter (along with heavyweight champ Rocky Marciano) of the 1950s. A consensus choice as the greatest boxer ever, Robinson fought 200 times, won 173 bouts, scored 108 knockouts, faced a dozen future hall of famers and was only stopped once – due to heat exhaustion in Round 14 of a light heavyweight championship bout.

Won welterweight title: On Dec. 20, 1947, getting up from a knockdown to outpoint Tommy Bell over 15 rounds for the vacant championship.

Fought for middleweight title(s): On Feb. 14, 1951, battering stubborn old rival Jake LaMotta to a technical stoppage in Round 13 of the infamous “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.” Robinson lost the middleweight crown to Randy Turpin, Carmen Basilio and Gene Fullmer, but regained the title from each future hall of famer on Sept. 12, 1951 (stopping Turpin in 10 rounds); May 1, 1957 (knocking Fullmer out in Round 5); and March 25, 1959 (outpointing Basilio via 15-round split decision). Robinson lost the middleweight title to Paul Pender via 15-round decision Jan. 22, 1960. He was unable to regain the title in return bouts against Pender and Fullmer.

Hall of fame induction: 1990