Gene Fullmer (b. July 21, 1931) was a strong, brawling American middleweight boxer. Fullmer won the world middleweight championship on January 2, 1957 when he upset the legendary Sugar Ray Robinson by winning a 15 round decision. July 21 is the 202nd day (203rd in leap years) of the year in the Gregorian Calendar, with 163 days remaining. ... 1931 is a common year starting on Thursday. ... The United States of America — also referred to as the United States, the U.S.A., the U.S., America, the States, or (archaically) Columbia—is a federal republic of 50 states located primarily in central North America (with the exception of two states: Alaska and Hawaii). ... Middleweight is a division, or weight class, in boxing. ... Boxer redirects here; for other meanings of boxer, see Boxer (disambiguation). ... January 2 is the 2nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... 1957 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Walker Smith Jr. ...

On May 1, 1957 Fullmer and Robinson fought a storied rematch. The fight began as expected with Fullmer using his strength, and awkwardness to bull into Robinson and force him onto his heels. In the 5th round Robinson, while backing up, lashed out with what has been called the perfect left hook. It caught Fullmer flush on the chin and knocked him cold. May 1 is the 121st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (122nd in leap years). ... 1957 was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will take you to calendar). ...

In 1959, the National Boxing Association withdrew its recognition of Robinson as middleweight champion. Fullmer, and fellow former middleweight champion Carmen Basilio fought for the vacant NBA title on August 28, 1959, and Fullmer won the crown when he TKOed Basilio in the 14th round. Meanwhile, Robinson was to lose his version of the middleweight championship to Paul Pender. 1959 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ... WBA is also an abbreviation for West Bromwich Albion F.C., an English football team. ... Carmine Basilio (born April 2, 1927) in Canastota, New York, better known in the boxing world as Carmen Basilio, is a former boxer of Italian-American origin. ... August 28 is the 240th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (241st in leap years), with 125 days remaining. ... 1959 was a common year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Fullmer and Pender never met to settle their claims to the middleweight title and Pender eventually retired. Meanwhile Fullmer fought and turned back the challenges of many top contenders, such as Basilio, Robinson, Spider Webb, Florentino Fernandez and welterweight champion Benny "Kid" Paret. He also narrowly escaped being dethroned when he was held to 15 round draws by Robinson and future titleholder Joey Giardello. Spider Webb was a Formula One driver (Indy 500 only) from the United States. ... Florentino the Ox Fernandez (b. ... Welterweight is a weight class division in the sport of boxing. ... Carmine Orlando Tilelli (born July 16, 1930), better known by his professional pseudonym of Joey Giardello, was an American star in the sport of boxing during the 1950s and 1960s. ...

Fullmer finally lost the middleweight title to Dick Tiger on October 23, 1962 on a unanimous decision. They fought a rematch on February 23, 1963, which resulted in a draw. Fullmer's attempts to regain the middleweight crown finally ended when he was TKOed in 7 rounds by Tiger on August 10, 1963. Richard Dick Tiger Ihetu (August 14, 1929 - December 14, 1971) was a boxer from Amaigbo, Orlu, Nigeria, was a migrant fighter to Liverpool (and later to America). ... October 23 is the 296th day of the year (297th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 69 days remaining. ... 1962 was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... February 23 is the 54th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Events January-February January 11 - The Whisky A Go-Go night club in Los Angeles, the first disco in the USA, is opened. ... August 10 is the 222nd day of the year (223rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... Events January-February January 11 - The Whisky A Go-Go night club in Los Angeles, the first disco in the USA, is opened. ...

Fullmer's final record included 55 wins (24 by KO), 6 losses and 3 draws.