Randolph Turpin

Randy Turpin was the British and European Middleweight Champion and England's shining boxing star when he scored the upset of the century in 1951 by winning a 15-round decision over the legendary Sugar Ray Robinson to capture the world's 160-pound boxing title. Robinson had a record of 128-1-3 and had won 93 straight fights. Turpin, 23 and with a record of 41-2-1, seemed destined for greatness. However, his reign as World Champion lasted only 64 days; when Robinson stopped him in the 10th round of their rematch to regain the title. Even though Turpin went on to win the Empire Middleweight title as well as the British and Empire Light-heavyweight titles, he never again wore the world's championship crown. Knockout defeats to Tiberio Mitri in one round, Gordon Wallace in four and Yolande Pompey in two ended his days as a contender, and he retired in 1958. His private life was filled with emotional and financial problems, and he made a comeback in an unlicensed bout on March 18, 1963 at Wisbech, England, knocking out Eddie Marcano in six rounds. His final bout was in Malta, on August 22, 1964 when he knocked out Charles Seguna in two rounds. Turpin also took up professional wrestling and worked in a scrapyard as his financial difficulties deteriorated further. On May 17, 1966, the 37-year-old former champion shot and killed himself in the café he and his wife, Gwyneth, ran in his hometown of Leamington in Warwickshire, England.