Cover Story Black History Month
Te son of a black Guyanese father, who was incapacitated by being gassed on active service in the First World War, and a white mother, Turpin, too, suffered badly from childhood racism. In more intimate provincial Leamington Spa in the West Midlands in England, racism could be considered to be even more personal than the general racism experienced in the more anonymous inner-city metropolis. Turpin’s elder brother, Dick Turpin, was the first black
boxer allowed to fight for, and win, an official British title. Less eloquent than Robinson, who was already a world welter- weight champion in December 1946, Turpin let his fists do the talking for him. He was noted for his “quick strike” with either hand and had lost only two of his 43 contests. Te British people, coming to their feet gradually after the deprivations of the Sec- ond World War, desperately needed to have a hero to get them to believe in themselves again. Only the previous year their national cricket team had been
humbled unexpectedly by the West Indies – in the series of the famous “Calypso Test Match” – and the soccer team had been put out of the World Cup by the USA. What better time than now, 1951, the year of the Festival of Britain. It was difficult to see how Turpin could “deliver” for them against Sugar Ray who was the favourite of 99% of the press and was 4-1 ahead in the booking odds. Te American knew how to make an appearance. Crowds
flocked to the weigh-in and there was a capacity attendance of 18,000 at Earl’s Court on 10 July 1951. Tere is no doubt that Rob- inson, below form, had seriously underestimated his unheralded opponent, but that should take nothing away from Turpin’s heroic achievement. From the moment he got into the ring, Ray must have known that this would be no ordinary “work-out”. Turpin stamped his authority on the bout from the opening bell by using his greater power to offset the American’s artistry. By the time the visitor scored with his first serious punch in the third round, he had ceded an early lead. Sugar Ray came away with a serious sliced eye after a clash of
heads in the seventh round. Turpin was not tempted into trying to win spectacularly by knockout but boxed within himself to protect his lead on points. By the end of the 15th round, referee Eugene Henderson had no hesitation in raising the hand of the home boxer as the winner. Sugar Ray agreed that the better man on the night had won, and the US press concurred. Te only people who could have been surprised by the verdict
were the radio-listeners in Britain. Te commentator, so sure that Sugar Ray was unbeatable, could not believe what was happening before his very eyes and gave his words a slant favouring the visitor. Randolph Turpin – “Our Randy” – was fêted everywhere
he went in the country. I doubt if any boxer, or any sportsman, has been so popular. Yet the seeds of his destruction were sown in that victory. Te young man could not handle the adulation for his sudden rise from rags to riches. Nevertheless, that was not apparent when he went to New York for the return match with Sugar Ray which had been stipulated in their contract. If people thought that reaction to the first fight had been extrava- gant, the Americans taught them otherwise – in the words of the show-business slogan: “You ain’t seen nothing yet”. Some 61,370 spectators crowded into the Polo Grounds on 12 September 1951.
68 | October 2011 | New African
Above: Randoph Turpin, and right, Turpin (l) and Sugar Ray Robinson in 1951
Yet possibly the most significant factor in determining the
outcome of the contest went unnoticed at the time. Less than a fortnight beforehand, George Flores had lost his life in a fight in the same city. It was only a minor contest but if a further death had followed in another high-profile contest, professional boxing might well have been banned. Sugar Ray started as he should have done – and was expected to
do – in London. Boxing brilliantly with his left jab, he outclassed the impudent Englishman so completely that he was well ahead on points over the first seven rounds. Ten the contest turned. As Turpin brought his superior power to bear, his opponent
wilted. Going into the second half of round 10, Turpin, though still behind on points, seemed to be in control of the contest and was getting stronger. Mid-way through the round, Sugar Ray’s eye was cut – the eye which had given him trouble in the first fight. Referee Ruby Goldstein signalled that if the blood was not staunched, he would have to stop the contest at the next interval. Sugar Ray went “blindingly beserk” as he unleashed a bar-
rage of punches in an attempt to win before the bell intervened. At first Turpin evaded the assault easily by pulling back – and then Ray connected with a superb right-hand punch. Te Briton took a count of “9”. As soon as he regained his feet, Sugar Ray hustled him to the ropes. With Turpin swaying helplessly and suffering a terrible beating without reply, Goldstein stopped the
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