Ray Robinson 154 lbs lost to Randolph Turpin 159 lbs by PTS in round 15 of 15
Date: 1951-07-10
Location: Earls Court Arena, Kensington, London, United Kingdom
World Middleweight Championship (1st defense by Robinson)
This was the seventh and final fight of Robinson’s European tour. The other six fights were non-title affairs which took place in France, Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, and Italy between May 21 and July 1.
Upon his arrival in London, Robinson was mobbed by fans. In his book Sweet Thunder: The Life and Times of Sugar Ray Robinson, Wil Haygood wrote, “People followed him everywhere; he required a police escort. Bobbies circled him as he moved about. Sugar Ray Robinson was a full-fledged international star.”
Photographer Gordon Parks, who accompanied Robinson to London, said, “There were no workouts. Sugar Ray played at golf through the days, and at card tables late into the nights.”
Robinson was a 4-1 favorite.
Robinson’s purse was $84,000 and Turpin received $25,500.
A sellout crowd of 18,000 produced a gate of $250,000.
Robinson suffered a deep gash on his left eyebrow.
Referee Eugene Henderson was the sole judge. When the fight concluded, he raised Turpin’s hand in victory. His score was not announced.
The Associated Press scored the fight 9-4-2 for Turpin
