Date: 11th July 1949
Venue: Municipal Stadium, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Title: World Welterweight Title
Promoter: Johnny Attell & Arena Corporation Philly
Sugar Ray Robinson
(
95
-
1
-
2
)
Weight: 147 lbs
Kid Gavilan
(
53
-
6
-
2
)
Weight: 144½ lbs
On the night of Monday, July 11, 1949, the Municipal Stadium in Philadelphia witnessed an electrifying rematch between Sugar Ray Robinson and Kid Gavilan for the World Welterweight Title. With Robinson's record at 95-1-2 and Kid Gavilan's at 53-6-2, the audience knew they were in for a treat. The atmosphere was palpable as 27,805 boxing enthusiasts filled the stadium, contributing to a gross gate of $175,754. Hailing from Harlem, New York, Robinson was a 2-1 favorite, while Kid Gavilan, known as "The Cuban Hawk," had journeyed from Havana, Cuba.
The match began with both fighters displaying impeccable skills. Robinson, weighing in at 147 lbs, had a slight weight advantage over Gavilan, who weighed 144½ lbs. However, this didn’t deter Gavilan, who managed to inflict a cut above Robinson's right eye in the fourth round. This was indicative of how closely contested the initial rounds were. According to Associated Press staff writer Hugh Fullerton, Jr., “For the first seven rounds against a younger and finely-conditioned opponent, Sugar Ray knew he had been in a fight.”
As the match progressed, the experience and prowess of Robinson started to come to the fore. From the sixth round onwards, he began to take control, bringing blood from Gavilan's nose. By this time, it was evident that Robinson was asserting his dominance. The crowd was enthralled as the champion displayed his skill, poise, and determination.
After the seventh round, the momentum clearly shifted in Robinson’s favor. Hugh Fullerton, Jr. noted, “Then he stepped out to show he was the boss and he did it expertly. Gavilan never stopped trying, but after the seventh round that was about all he could do.” Gavilan’s relentless spirit was commendable, but Robinson's mastery in the ring proved to be too much for the challenger.
The match concluded with Robinson securing a unanimous decision victory. The judges’ scores reflected the champion’s dominance in the latter stages of the match, with referee Charley Daggert scoring it 9-6, Frank Knaresborough 12-3, and Harry Lasky also at 9-6 in favor of Robinson. This marked Robinson’s 4th successful defense of the World Welterweight Title. He collected 40 percent of a net gate of $128,435, while Gavilan received 18½ percent.