Being Sugar Ray

Sugar Ray Robinson is the man who Mohammed Ali described as "the King, my master, my idol". In a career that spanned three decades, Sugar Ray Robinson fought 202 times, and at his height he went unbeaten for 91 consecutive matches. This biography tells the compelling story of this first athlete to be considered a celebrity.

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This is the definitive biography of Sugar Ray Robinson - the man who Mohammed Ali described as "the King, my master, my idol" - and an expedition into the culture of celebrity in sports. In a career that spanned three decades, Sugar Ray Robinson fought 202 times, and at his height he went unbeaten for 91 consecutive matches. His most memorable rivalry was with Jake "Raging Bull" La Motta, who he fought six times, winning five of the contests. Fighters have been adopting his name, and trying to imitate his inimitable fighting style for decades, and there is little doubt that he is amongst the greatest and most influential boxers of all time. Robinson transcended race and sport to become a celebrity athlete in a way that no-one had accomplished before him. Yet, until now, his life and influence has never received the attention it deserves. In this critical new book, author and sports writer Kenneth Shropshire tells the compelling story of Sugar Ray, showing how he was the trailblazer - the first athlete to be considered a celebrity, and one who changed the way that a black man could be seen in America.