Jim Robinson (boxer)
Jim Robinson | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1925 Kansas City, Missouri, U.S. |
| Disappeared | c. 1979 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Boxer (retired) |
| Known for | Fighting Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali) in Miami Beach on February 7, 1961 |
Jim Robinson (born c. 1925), known as "Sweet Jimmy", was an American boxer from Miami. Robinson fought Muhammad Ali (at that time still called Cassius Clay) in Miami Beach on February 7, 1961 as a last-minute replacement for Willie Gullatt.[1] Robinson became Ali's fourth professional opponent. His whereabouts and status are currently unknown.[2]
Background
Originally from
Bout with Clay/Ali
On February 7, 1961, Cassius Clay (later known as Muhammad Ali), was scheduled to fight Willie Gullatt in Miami Beach. According to Gullatt, promoter Chris Dundee,
Robinson fought for seven more years while compiling a record of 8 wins and 25 losses. He was knocked out 16 times. He retired from boxing in 1963 and became a fixture in local pool halls and street corners in Liberty City. In 1968 he came out of retirement to fight Kent Green in Miami Beach. At that time Green was the only fighter to have a TKO win over Muhammad Ali (when Ali was an amateur). Green stopped Robinson in under a minute.
Whereabouts unknown
In 1979 Sports Illustrated writer/photographer Michael Brennan tracked down Robinson in Miami for what has been his last known interview to date.[4] Robinson claimed that he only weighed 158 lbs. for his fight with Ali (not 178 as was officially listed). He also stated that he was good friends with Ali and would drive him around in Ali's pink Cadillac. He last saw Ali in 1967. Since this interview, Robinson's whereabouts have been unknown. In 2009, ESPN sports writer Wright Thompson wrote an article about his six-year attempt to find Robinson in the Overtown district of Miami with no success.[5]
Ali collector Stephen Singer has spent a number of years searching for Robinson, collecting autographs of 49 of Ali's 50 opponents, with Robinson being the lone omission.[6]
Professional boxing record
References
- Archive.org.
- ^ Campbell, Janie (19 December 2009). "Boxing History Lost in Overtown". NBC 6 News (Miami). Miami, Florida, United States: NBC. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022.
- ^ "The Milwaukee Sentinel". 8 Feb 1961. Archived from the original on 13 April 2020. Retrieved 23 September 2018 – via google.ca.
- ISSN 0038-822X. Archived from the originalon 4 June 2011.
- ^ Thompson, Wright (16 December 2009). Written at Miami, Florida, United States. "Shadow boxing: Muhammad Ali fought 50 men. Only one disappeared". ESPN.com. Outside the Lines. Bristol, Connecticut, United States: ESPN Inc. Archived from the original on 7 January 2022.
- OCLC 66652431. Archived from the originalon 5 October 2021.
- ^ "BoxRec - Jimmy Robinson". boxrec.com.
External links
- Boxing record for Jim Robinson from BoxRec (registration required)