(7 of 7)
Ahead of him are more Runyon Fund tours, to Italy, Scandinavia, possibly Israel. And this week Sugar Ray is settling down to the serious business of getting ready for a title defense against British Empire (and European) Middleweight Champion Randy Turpin next month. Turpin, at 23, is a real challenge to the champion, a fighter with the power, if not the ring-wise skill of Robinson himself. In 50 fights, young Turpin has been beaten only once (by France's Jean Stock). Since he won his title last October, Turpin has knocked out seven opponents in a row, including France's Stock and Holland's De Bruin.
But Robinson is already looking past Turpin to another title—the light heavyweight championship now held by Joey Maxim. Robinson says he will not fight Heavyweight Champion Ezzard Charles under any circumstances. But Maxim is something else again. Though Robinson is too politic to mention it, the light heavyweight crown is the only major world title not held by a Negro. Besides, says Good Businessman Ray Robinson, "it's a good money match."
* Blows thrown with almost the same motion as that used by a softball pitcher. More spectacular-looking than the shorter, deadlier uppercut, the bolo is telegraphed by its windup, hence is not normally effective as a knockout punch.
* A child, now 13, lives with his mother, is supported by Robinson.
* Hammering Henry, a leather-throwing little gamecock, is the only man ever to hold three titles (featherweight, lightweight and welterweight) simultaneously. Today, a fighter automatically vacates one title when he wins another.