Of Boxing Sweets and Sugars

Sugar Shane Mosley and Sugar Ray Leonard only borrowed it from the "original" Sugar Ray Robinson AKA Walter Smith, Jr, who was born in Detroit on May 3, 1921. Boxing historians said that to beat the minimum age on his maiden fight, Smith borrowed the birth certificate of his friend, Ray Robinson, and hit the big time when he defeated Tommy Bell in December of 1946 for the welterweight division in a title fight and not unlike Manny Pacquiao, Sugar Ray bring sweetness to social, political and economic bitterness of many countries around the world and World War II’s acidic aftertaste that time.

Ray Robinson acquired this nickname after a journalist for a local newspaper named Jack Case told George Gainford (Robinson's manager) that he had a sweet fighter in Robinson, and his manager replied, "As sweet as sugar". Jack Case remembered this comment because in his newspaper article the next day, he named Ray "Sugar Ray Robinson", thus the ring name.

The statistic shows the sourness and sweetness of Sugar Ray Robinson’s career: In 202 professional fights he registered 109 KOs, won 66 on-point decisions, had 6 draws, lost 18 via scorecard, was knocked out once, and had 2 no contest. He died on April 12, 1989, at 67 due to Alzheimer's disease and, of all diseases, diabetes!

Robinson’s boxing career was a combination of bitter-sweet-sweet-bitter journey. Not unlike Pacquiao. Sugar Ray lost when he challenged Joey Maxim for the light-heavyweight title and opted to retire in 1952 but after 3 years, he once again climbed the ring and beat the middleweight title from Carl “Bobo” (Certainly, a Filipino would not choose it for a ring name!) Olson.

Sugar Ray’s career was a roller coaster ride until he lost the title for good to Paul Pender on January 22, 1960, exactly two years and one day before this scribe was born.

But why is boxing called a sweet science? British journalist named Pierce Egan in 1824, while he was covering the sport, referred to boxing as “the sweet science of bruising”. Since then, boxing has been referred to as the "sweet science."

It was the summer of 1947 when Sugar Ray Robinson slugged it out against Jimmy Doyle and Robinson beat him so badly that Doyle collapsed and died. Some days later, at the hearing into the death, the district attorney turned to Ray and asked accusingly, "Couldn't you see he was hurt?" Sugar Ray looked at him resentfully. "Sir," he told him, "it's my business to hurt people."

Even today, the statement is true. The business of boxing is still aimed at hurting the opponent. It is the unmatched gruesome business that we all love to watch. But it has no place for arrogance and conceit because boxing is a dignified sport.

Indeed, the sweet science of hurting people with full respect. Boxing is a paradox.