Sugar Ray Robinson had knocked out Gene Fullmer with a left hook less than five months earlier. Carmen Basilio knew the danger. On September 23, 1957, he stepped up from
On September 23, 1957, Carmen Basilio moved up from welterweight to defeat middleweight champion Sugar Ray Robinson by split decision at Yankee Stadium. Basilio used continuous pressure, body punching, and infighting to restrict Robinson's reach and movement over the course of 15 rounds. Neither fighter was knocked down in front of the 38,072 spectators in attendance.
Referee Al Berl scored the contest 9-6 for Robinson, while both judges ruled in favor of Basilio to award him the championship. A ringside media poll of 47 writers saw 26 favor Basilio, 17 pick Robinson, and four score it a draw. The bout was named The Ring's 1957 Fight of the Year.
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