The Onion Picker: Carmen Basilio and Boxing in the 1950s

On September 23, 1957, Carmen Basilio moved up in weight class to challenge Sugar Ray Robinson, pound for pound the greatest boxer, for the middleweight championship of the world. Basilio, the ultimate warrior, set the stage for a classic matchup between great fighters. Leading up to the fight, Robinson had angered his opponent with his arrogance and one-sided demands. Basilio entered the ring with one goal in mind: the destruction of Sugar Ray Robinson. This matchup was much more than a battle for a world championship. This fight was "personal."