Randy Turpin vs. Sugar Ray Robinson II
World Middleweight Title
Polo Grounds, New York, NY, USA
September 12th 1951
Attendance: 61,437

After defeating Sugar Ray Robinson for the World Middleweight title in London, England. Due to a stipulation in the contract from their first fight, Randy was forced to defend his crown only 64 days later in New York, USA. Randy was out to prove that his victory wasn't a fluke, and that he had defeated Robinson legitimately. Robinson was looking to avenge the defeat and regain the World Middleweight title.

Odds - Robinson was a 2-to-1 favourite for the bout, with defending champion Randy a 6-to-4 underdog.

Purses - Randy's purse of $207,075 was the biggest purse ever received by a British boxer. Although despite him being defending champion, Sugar Ray Robinson would receive more with $248,491.

Sparring - Randy sparred with experienced American southpaw Bert Lytell in preparation for the fight. Lytell was a Light-Heavyweight with a superb chin. He had fought Archie Moore twice, and Jake Lamotta during his career.

Referee - The referee for this bout was Eugene Henderson, who had officiated many World title bouts with fights involving Joe Louis, Jake LaMotta, and Ezzard Charles.

At the weigh-in Robinson made it clear that he had attempted to gain weight right up until the day of the fight, by declaring that his breakfast that day consisted of "orange juice, two boiled eggs, dry toast and tea", Randy in contrast admitted to only having "a spot of tea"

"When I do get over to New York, I shall be fit to fight Robinson and I think [......] or rather I say I'm very sure and confident that I shall come back with the title." [Randy Turpin]

"I'm very very confident that Randy is travelling with us today, as the Middleweight champion of the world. And we will bring him back in September with the title intact, he will still come back as the Middleweight champion of the world." [Randy's promoter Jack Solomons]

The fight begins more aggressively than the first fight with plenty of clinching, perhaps Robinson wanting to show his increased power. It is Randy who launches the first punches, with his lunging left hooks, but Robinson grabs and works the body. Randy takes the fight to Robinson in the second, with a good right to the head. Towards the end of the round Robinson shows his power with a right to the head, which wobbles Randy.

He fights back at the end of the round and the fight appears even. Robinson again shows his power in the third with another right to the head, that sends Randy backward towards the ropes. Randy fights back but Robinson dominates with good work to the body, Robinson looks to be edging ahead. Randy shows good work in the fourth with long shots scoring, and evading any counters from Robinson.

Both men miss big punches in the round, Randy with a right swing and Robinson with an uppercut. Robinson dominates round five with good close fighting, and manages to keep Randy on the back foot. The fight is close but Robinson just has the upper hand.

Robinson continues to have Randy on the back foot during rounds six and seven, dominating the fighting in close. Randy while not taking the fight to Robinson still looks fit and strong, and is giving a good account of himself. Randy picks up his work in the 8th round backing Robinson up as he did in the first fight. Robinson appears content to clinch and fend off Randy with straight lefts.

Come the end of the round it is Robinson that looks the more tired of the fighters, perhaps simply from doing more work. Robinson sticks to his tactics in the ninth keeping in close with two-fisted flurries, followed by clinching, while Randy does the better work at distance with the jab. As the fight picks up Robinson lands a right hook to Randy's chin, to which he retaliates with a left hook and right cross. Following these punches Randy had reopened the cut he caused some 64 days earlier. Robinson fearing that the referee would stop the bout threw everything he had a Randy.

"I went at him. It was do or die"

A right cross puts Randy flat on his back, but he manages to get to his feet. Robinson then forces Randy to the corner and begins to throw a barrage of punches with both hands. Randy does his best to evade the punches with ducking, dodging and weaving, but is not fighting back. At 2 minutes 52 seconds of the round referee Ruby Goldstein stops the fight, Sugar Ray Robinson regains the World Middleweight title after just 64 days.

Winner: Sugar Ray Robinson (TKO 10)

Below is my unofficial scorecard of the fight. In rounds I had it 5-3-1 to Robinson.

"To the people back home, and all the British people. I'd like to let them know that I did my best, but it seems this time my best wasn't quite good enough. When the referee stopped the fight last night, I knew what I was doing and I knew that I had been down for a count of seven.....it's no good arguing with the referee because his decision is final.

I'm very sorry that I shan't be taking the Middleweight championship of the world back to England with me, but when I do go back I shall be taking something alot greater than the championship of the world, because I'll be taking the good wishes of thousands of American people who was at the show last night, and the people that I've met while I was over here." [Randy Turpin]

"As a fighter Turpin's about one of the best that I've ever met. As a gentleman, he's a wonderful fellow. Those of you who haven't had the pleasure of knowing him, Randy's one of the most regular guys that you'll ever want to meet.

I only hope that he'll have as enjoyable time here in America, in New York, as I had while I was in England. And I would love to have the opportunity to show him around here, in New York City." [Sugar Ray Robinson]

"He should not have stopped it. With only seven seconds to go I was perfectly keen." [Randy Turpin]

"I mean what I say. I shall pack up in September 1952. I don't care how much money is involved. I'm not going to finish up punch-drunk or any other kind of drunk." [Randy Turpin]

“If he wants another fight I am willing to give it to him. I went after him after the cut because I knew I had to” [Sugar Ray Robinson]

“Turpin was helpless. He could not defend himself. My plans were that I should take it easy in the seventh to tenth rounds. Then came the gash over my eye early in the tenth. When I saw blood I forget my plan. I forgot everything" [Sugar Ray Robinson]

"It was a good fight and a close one" [Referee Ruby Goldstein]

[American boxing writer A.J. Leibling] described Robinson's punches "as a succession of smashing hits such I'd never seen a fighter take without going down." After the fight, he said of Turpin "I thought I had never seen a fighter so game or so beaten..."

[English boxing writer Gilbert Odd] described Robinson's punches in the last seconds as "some of the fiercest, fastest, and most accurate ever seen."

On arriving back in England, Randy gave an interview to press as he left the Queen Mary ship.

Q: Randy, about the tenth round could you have gone on?
A: Yes, when I got up I was quite clear, and, well you know the referees decision's final just the same as it is over here.

Q: When are you going back to have another crack at it?
A: Well, I hope next June or before if I can get it.

Q: What about the spring?
A: I don't mind I'll go in the winter as well if I have to.

Q: Your going to fight in New York in November aren't you, Harold Green is it?
A: Well, I don't know, unless my manager's been talking to him without me knowing.

Records - The fight broke numerous records including record receipts for a non-heavyweight bout at $767,626, TV receipts of $25,000 and film receipts of $200,000.

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