?The old geezer died from cancer complications at the age of seventy five,? would say Bert Sugar himself if he was to report on his own passing. Despite having a full use of rich English language, boxing historian and an accomplished author Sugar did not sugarcoat the truth. To me Bert Randolph Sugar was just as much boxing as Muhammad Ali or Manny Pacquiao or Sugar Ray Leonard.
Fedora hat, large Cuban cigar in the right hand a shot of whiskey in the left hand and a booming baritone; you could not miss Bert Sugar anywhere around big boxing event. My fondest memory of old Bert was sitting next to him in the media row at the Pacquiao Clottey bout at the New Dallas Cowboys Stadium in 2010; listening to Bert?s comments was better than watching the fight. Tipsy after a few shots of whiskey, Bert was grumpy. The effort forthcoming from challenger, Joshua Clottey did not improve his mood.? I should have stayed home and watched it on my couch,? growled Sugar while looking at the race form:? At my age I could throw more punches than Clottey.?
A true boxing encyclopedia and royalty among sweet science media, Bert Sugar never acted as a royalty; he had time to talk to any fan or reporter. Just ask him a question about boxing and you will get an ear full. International Veterans Boxing Association called Bert Sugar who authored over eighty boxing primarily about boxing history: ?The Greatest Boxing writer of the 20th century.?
Right or wrong Bert always had a strong opinion on anything that had to do with sweet science or anything else for that matter. Bert was one of the very few people in boxing that felt that Antonio Margarito presented a very tough hurdle for pound for pound king of boxing , Manny Pacquiao. I did my last interview with Mr. Sugar on November 11th, 2010 prior to Pacquiao Margarito showdown in Texas. Bert picked Pacquiao in eight. Please check out the video interview on the left.
Rest in peace, old man! There never will be another Bert Sugar in the world of boxing.
