It seems unbelievable that two of boxing greatest legends would, in the prime of their careers, square off twice in the same month and in the same venue, but that's exactly what took place in Detroit in 1943. LaMotta was also a great champion in his own right and became a cultural icon thanks to Martin Scorsese's classic film “Raging Bull.” Robinson is still considered the all-time greatest pound-for-pound fighter by virtually every boxing expert. He isn't telling tales when he praises his rival. “He was undefeated in his first 100 fights. “There's no question that was the greatest fighter who ever lived,” LaMotta, age 90, triumphantly recalled while speaking to Deadline Detroit from his Florida home.
Sugar Ray would get revenge three weeks later in yet another fight at Olympia. Seventy years ago today, on February 5, 1943, boxing history was made at Detroit's Olympia Stadium as Jake LaMotta handed Detroit-native Sugar Ray Robinson his first defeat.