Ray Robinson was the greatest boxer period, at any weight. That said his greatest success was at 160 lbs. as a middleweight. Henry Armstrong a guy Ray Robinson beat late in Henry's career was almost as good at 147 lbs, as Robinson and Thomas Hearns at 147 lbs. punched harder than both of them. You can make a case for others at 147 lbs, as well, names like Sugar Ray Leonard, Roberto Duran, Julio Cesar Chavez Sr, Aaron Pryor, Pernell Whitaker and Hector Camacho Sr. all fought at welterweight along with all time greats like Carmine Basilio, Emile Griffith and Kid Gavilin. There have been many greats who passed through the welterweight division, even Mayweather and Pacquiao have a case, but none of them were as good as Ray Robinson.
Robinson had a great record at welterweight but there are factors that affect his claim to being the greatest at the division which include:
1. His winning a vacant world championship over Tommy Bell whom he had already beaten a year before.
2. His compiling a 110-1-2 record at welterweight spiked by wins over many unknowns and some noted fighters who had seen better days like Fritzie Zivic, Izzy Janazzo, Marty Servo, Henry Armstrong and Sammy Angott. I concede he held significant wins over the likes of Kid Gavilan and Jake La Motta who would later win world championships at welterweight and middleweight respectively but aside from those two prominents, who exactly did he meet and beat who was still young and prime time? He never met the likes of Ike Williams, Beau Jack and Billy Graham.
3. The draws against Jose Basora and Henry Brimms, both under achievers.
I submit that Sugar Ray Leonard had better record at welterweight losing just to fellow ATG Roberto Duran at 147, a loss he would avenge later by TKO in their rematch, while beating the likes of fellow ATGs Tommy Hearns and Wilfred Benitez.
As to the claim as the greatest at middleweight, the fact that he lost the world title as many time as he lost it---five times is the greatest argument against Robinson.
I submit that Carlos Monzon who held the universal championship unbeaten and Bernard Hopkins who held the division record for title defenses while reigning as unified world champion had better records.
Leonard who also won the middleweight title beating another ATG Marvin Hagler I think is the greatest at 147 and 154 lbs.
I think he is considering the skill level he brought to both divisions, the number of fights he had and the frequency he fought and the equally great fighters he faced.
Sugar ray robinson is the greatest of all time we just don't have enough footage of him today to prove that
if he isn't who are the greatest at these weights? And, can you think of another fighter who can be at least top 3 in two divisions? the only guy i can really think of was henry armstrong.
