Gene Fullmer
Boxing middleweight champion
July 21, 1931 – April 27, 2015
He captured the middleweight title in 1957 by decision from legendary champion Sugar Ray Robinson.
It was his ability to endure punishment and his tireless attack that carried him to victory. In a rematch four months later, Sugar Ray scored a one-punch knockout, delivering a left hook in the fifth round that some have called “the perfect punch.”
Two years later, he won the NBA middleweight title by scoring a 14th-round knockout of Carmen Basilio. Seven successful title defenses followed.
His reign as middleweight champion ended in 1962 with a 15-round loss against Dick Tiger.
Gene Fullmer became a professional boxer in 1951, one month before his 20th birthday. The Mormon boy from West Jordan, Utah, scored knockouts in 14 of his first 16 pro fights. Among his significant early victories was a win over future middleweight champ Paul Pender.
Wins over Rocky Castellani, Gil Turner, and Ralph “Tiger” Jones in 1956 moved him into title contention.
He captured the middleweight title in 1957 by decision over legendary champion Sugar Ray Robinson. It was Fullmer’s ability to endure punishment and his tireless attack that carried him to victory. In a rematch with Robinson four months later, Sugar Ray scored a one-punch knockout, delivering a left hook in the fifth round that some have called “the perfect punch.”
On September 16, 1957, Time magazine wrote, “Mormon Elder Gene Fullmer, 26, swarmed over Chico Vejar, 25, to win a ten-round decision and take a long step back toward a rematch with Sugar Ray Robinson.”
In 1959, the National Boxing Association withdrew its recognition of Robinson as middleweight champion. Fullmer and fellow former middleweight champion Carmen Basilio fought for the vacant NBA title on August 28, 1959, and Fullmer won the crown when he knocked out Basilio in the 14th round.
Seven successful title defenses followed. In that span, he beat Spider Webb, Basilio, Robinson, Florentino Fernandez, and Benny Paret, and fought to draws against Robinson (in their fourth and final fight) and Joey Giardello. His reign as middleweight champion ended in 1962 with a 15-round loss against Dick Tiger. They fought a rematch in 1963 and the bout ended in a draw. A third match followed and Fullmer retired after getting knocked out in the seventh round.
Fullmer’s final professional record included 55 wins (24 by knockout), six losses and three draws.
Some source material from : wikipedia.org
Source: Boxing Hall of Fame
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