When it comes to Mike Tyson, he still holds the kind of pull that could knock out an entire room with just a smirk. So, it’s no surprise that folks are quick to crown him the G.O.A.T. every time his name pops up. But not everyone’s handing out tiaras and trophies—especially not Canelo Alvarez and Ryan Garcia. These former gym buddies aren’t exactly jumping on the Tyson-worship bandwagon!

Just the other day, ‘Cinnamon’ appeared in an interview with DAZN Boxing, where he named the man, the myth, and the legend, Muhammad Ali, his greatest boxer of all time, ignoring ‘Iron’ Mike. This debate has raged on for years, if not decades, with fans and experts naming their favorite boxers as the greatest of all time. However, the youngest heavyweight champion was never left out of the conversation this much. 

Ryan Garcia recently weighed in on the GOAT debate during an interview with Emily Austin on DAZN Boxing. As Austin fired off a series of rapid-fire questions, the topic of the greatest boxer of all time quickly surfaced. But unlike Canelo, who gave Muhammad Ali the nod, Garcia went in a different direction, choosing a legendary fighter who, despite his remarkable accomplishments, is rarely mentioned in today’s conversations.

“Sugar Ray Robinson,” the Victorville native said. Like Canelo, Garcia seemingly ignored Mike Tyson, who recently fought YouTube star Jake Paul in a 10-round bout. Despite the gospels of his ferocity and power, the 58-year-old lost the fight via unanimous decision—understandably so. Tyson might have been a force to be reckoned with once upon a time, but today, he’s barely a shell of his former self.

Regardless, the question is—was ‘Sugar Ray’ Robinson really that good? 

Who is Sugar Ray Robinson, whom Ryan Garcia crowned Greatest of All Time?

If you look into boxing’s history books, Ryan Garcia isn’t exactly wrong. While Ali and Tyson well deserve the legends told about them, Robinson was, for many, in a league of his own. Widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers ever, Robinson had a career spanning 1940 to 1965 when he compiled a record of 174 wins (109 KOs), 19 losses, and 6 draws. 

At the age of 25, ‘Sugar Ray’ won his first world welterweight title in 1946 and went on to defend it five times. He even captured the middleweight title five times between 1951 and 1960, a record for a reigning champion. Not to forget, he defeated Jake LaMotta, perhaps his biggest rival, a total of five times out of six total fights between them.

Robinson was known for his dazzling speed, power, and flair, which revolutionized the sport during that era and earned him the nickname ‘Sugar.’ He was so great and popular that a statue of him is in Madison Square Garden to honor his legacy. Even Muhammad Ali was a Robinson fan, often speaking about his greatness. 

“Sugar Ray Robinson was the greatest, pound-for-pound, of all time. He had it all—speed, power, style, and a jab like a piston. I modeled myself after him, but I could never be Sugar Ray,” Ali once said, signifying how great he really was. 

That said, it appears Ryan Garcia didn’t stick to the most popular name today to crown the GOAT. However, that’s Garcia’s perspective—different people view the debate through different lenses. What about you? Who do you think is the GOAT?