Sugar Ray Robinson vs Jose Napoles
Napoles had the advantage over the first five rounds as Robinson was confused by his defense and counterpunching. Robinson started to find the range with his jab and crisp counterpunching and fight was fairly even after 8 rounds. After a dull 9th round, Napoles stunned Robinson with a good left hook in the 10th and continued his momentum into the 11th. After 11 rounds, Napoles appeared to be slightly ahead and it seemed a surprise might be in the works.
Robinson rallied over the next two rounds, ripping Napoles to the body. Towards the end of the 13th, Robinson staggered Napoles with a tremendous overhand right. The fighters engaged in a toe to toe war in an action packed 14th round. Napoles stunned Robinson with a wicked left hook. But [the original Sugar Ray] quickly responded with a vicious 4 punch combination capped off by a left uppercut that wobbled Napoles. The crowd was on its feet as the round came to a close.
The fighters continued to trade at a furious pace in the 15th, with both men looking to put his stamp on a very close and exciting fight. With 1:00 remaining, Robinson connected with a left hook that floored Napoles. Mantequilla rose at the count of 7 but was badly hurt.
Sugar Ray moved for the finish. He landed an overhand right which sent Napoles reeling towards the ropes. Napoles valiantly tried to hold on but he was defenseless. Robinson landed 8 unanswered punches, prompting the referee to step in and stop the fight with just 23 seconds remaining. Robinson wins by TKO and moves on to the finals to face the winner of Leonard-Armstrong.
Robinson TKO 15
Sugar Ray Leonard vs Henry Armstrong
As one would expect, SRL started the fight on his bicycle utilizing his substantial height and reach advantage. Leonard was too slick and too fast for Armstrong early, carrying the first four rounds as Hammerin’ Hank struggled to find a way inside. Armstrong finally trapped Leonard along the ropes in the 5th, pounding Leonard to the body. Armstrong continued his momentum into the sixth rocking Leonard with a hard right towards the end of the round. Armstrong remained in control for most of the 7th, however, Sugar Ray opened up with flurries late to steal the round. By the end of the 8th, Armstrong was swollen under his left eye. Leonard took advantage of this in the 9th and 10th, peppering Armstrong with the jab.
Armstrong rallied in the 11th and, shook Leonard in the 12th with a tremendous left hook. Armstrong battered Leonard to the body over the final 30 seconds of the round. Leonard rebounded and the fighters engaged in hellacious toe-to-toe action over the next two rounds. Leonard was rocked by a right hand in the 14th but responded with a three punch combination that shook Armstrong. The crowd roared as the round came to a close. Leonard boxed conservatively over the final 3 minutes. Armstrong gave chase but couldn’t corner the elusive Leonard. He caught Leonard with one good right hand but wasn’t able to follow up. The bell rang and the fight went to the scorecards.
The scorecards were read and Leonard was awarded a majority decision: 145-141, 144-141, 143-143.
Our final matchup is now set. Sugar Ray Robinson will face off against Sugar Ray Leonard for the Welterweight championship off all time!
Napoles had the advantage over the first five rounds as Robinson was confused by his defense and counterpunching. Robinson started to find the range with his jab and crisp counterpunching and fight was fairly even after 8 rounds. After a dull 9th round, Napoles stunned Robinson with a good left hook in the 10th and continued his momentum into the 11th. After 11 rounds, Napoles appeared to be slightly ahead and it seemed a surprise might be in the works.
Robinson rallied over the next two rounds, ripping Napoles to the body. Towards the end of the 13th, Robinson staggered Napoles with a tremendous overhand right. The fighters engaged in a toe to toe war in an action packed 14th round. Napoles stunned Robinson with a wicked left hook. But [the original Sugar Ray] quickly responded with a vicious 4 punch combination capped off by a left uppercut that wobbled Napoles. The crowd was on its feet as the round came to a close.
The fighters continued to trade at a furious pace in the 15th, with both men looking to put his stamp on a very close and exciting fight. With 1:00 remaining, Robinson connected with a left hook that floored Napoles. Mantequilla rose at the count of 7 but was badly hurt.
Sugar Ray moved for the finish. He landed an overhand right which sent Napoles reeling towards the ropes. Napoles valiantly tried to hold on but he was defenseless. Robinson landed 8 unanswered punches, prompting the referee to step in and stop the fight with just 23 seconds remaining. Robinson wins by TKO and moves on to the finals to face the winner of Leonard-Armstrong.
Robinson TKO 15
Sugar Ray Leonard vs Henry Armstrong
As one would expect, SRL started the fight on his bicycle utilizing his substantial height and reach advantage. Leonard was too slick and too fast for Armstrong early, carrying the first four rounds as Hammerin’ Hank struggled to find a way inside. Armstrong finally trapped Leonard along the ropes in the 5th, pounding Leonard to the body. Armstrong continued his momentum into the sixth rocking Leonard with a hard right towards the end of the round. Armstrong remained in control for most of the 7th, however, Sugar Ray opened up with flurries late to steal the round. By the end of the 8th, Armstrong was swollen under his left eye. Leonard took advantage of this in the 9th and 10th, peppering Armstrong with the jab.
Armstrong rallied in the 11th and, shook Leonard in the 12th with a tremendous left hook. Armstrong battered Leonard to the body over the final 30 seconds of the round. Leonard rebounded and the fighters engaged in hellacious toe-to-toe action over the next two rounds. Leonard was rocked by a right hand in the 14th but responded with a three punch combination that shook Armstrong. The crowd roared as the round came to a close. Leonard boxed conservatively over the final 3 minutes. Armstrong gave chase but couldn’t corner the elusive Leonard. He caught Leonard with one good right hand but wasn’t able to follow up. The bell rang and the fight went to the scorecards.
The scorecards were read and Leonard was awarded a majority decision: 145-141, 144-141, 143-143.
Our final matchup is now set. Sugar Ray Robinson will face off against Sugar Ray Leonard for the Welterweight championship off all time!