Editing Sugar Ray Robinson (section)

===Decline===
[[File:Sugar Ray Robinson 1966.jpg|left|thumb|Robinson, [[Madison Square Garden]], 1966]]

Robinson knocked out Bob Young in the second round in [[Boston]] in his only fight in 1959. A year later, he defended his title against [[Paul Pender]]. Robinson entered the fight as a 5–1 favorite, but lost a split decision in front of 10,608 at [[Boston Garden]].<ref name="Pender">Nichols, Joseph C. (January 23, 1960). [https://www.nytimes.com/1960/01/23/archives/51-choice-loses-a-split-decision-robinson-beaten-by-pender-in.html "5–1 Choice Loses A Split Decision"], ''The New York Times''. Retrieved June 6, 2007.</ref> The day before the fight Pender commented that he planned to start slowly, before coming on late. He did just that and outlasted the aging Robinson, who, despite opening a cut over Pender's eye in the eighth round, was largely ineffective in the later rounds.<ref name="Pender"/> An attempt to regain the crown for an unheard of sixth time proved beyond Robinson. Despite Robinson's efforts, Pender won by decision in that rematch. On December 3 of that year, Robinson and Fullmer fought a 15-round draw for the [[World Boxing Association|WBA]] middleweight title, which Fullmer retained. In 1961, Robinson and Fullmer fought for a fourth time, with Fullmer retaining the [[World Boxing Association|WBA]] middleweight title by a unanimous decision. The fight would be Robinson's last title bout.

Robinson spent the rest of the 1960s fighting 10-round contests. In October 1961 Robinson defeated future world champion [[Denny Moyer]] by a unanimous decision. A 12–5 favorite, the 41-year-old Robinson defeated the 22-year-old Moyer by staying on the outside, rather than engaging him.<ref>Conkilin, William R. (October 22, 1961) [https://www.nytimes.com/1961/10/22/archives/robinson-beats-moyer-in-tenrounder-here-exchampion-takes-unanimous.html "Robinson Beats Moyer in Ten-Rounder Here"]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved June 6, 2007.</ref> In their rematch four months later, Moyer defeated Robinson on points, as he pressed the action and made Robinson back up throughout the fight. Moyer won 7–3 on all three judges scorecards.<ref>Teague, Robert L. (February 18, 1962). [https://www.nytimes.com/1962/02/18/archives/denny-moyer-defeats-robinson-oregon-fighter-22-is-too-quick-for.html "Denny Moyer Defeats Robinson"]. ''The New York Times''. Retrieved June 6, 2007.</ref> Robinson lost twice more in 1962, before winning six consecutive fights against mostly lesser opposition.  In February 1963 Robinson lost by a unanimous decision to former world champion and fellow Hall of Famer [[Joey Giardello]]. Giardello knocked Robinson down in the fourth round, and the 43-year-old took until the count of nine to rise to his feet.<ref name="Giardello">[https://www.nytimes.com/1963/06/25/archives/left-hook-floors-sugar-ray-in-4th-robinson-takes-count-of-9.html Left Hook Floors Sugar Ray in 4th], ''The New York Times'', June 25, 1963. Retrieved June 6, 2007.</ref> Robinson was also nearly knocked down in the sixth round, but was saved by the bell. He rallied in the seventh and eight rounds, before struggling in the final two.<ref name="Giardello"/> He then embarked on an 18-month boxing tour of Europe.

Robinson's second [[no contest (boxing)|no-contest]] bout came in September 1965 in Norfolk, Virginia in a match with an opponent who turned out to be an impostor. Boxer Neil Morrison, at the time a fugitive and accused robber, signed up for the fight as Bill Henderson, a capable [[club fighter]]. The fight was a fiasco, with Morrison being knocked down twice in the first round and once in the second before the disgusted referee, who said "Henderson put up no fight", walked out of the ring. Robinson was initially given a TKO in 1:20 of the second round after the "obviously frightened" Morrison laid himself down on the canvas. Robinson fought for the final time in November 1965. He lost by a unanimous decision to [[Joey Archer]].<ref name="Civic">[https://www.nytimes.com/1965/11/11/archives/robinson-beaten-in-archer-fight-loser-floored-for-9-count-in-bout.html "Robinson Beaten in Archer Fight"]. ''The New York Times''. ''Associated Press''. November 11, 1965. Retrieved June 6, 2007.</ref> Famed sports author Pete Hamill mentioned that one of the saddest experiences of his life was watching Robinson lose to Archer. He was even knocked down and Hamill pointed out that Archer had no knockout punch at all; Archer admitted afterward that it was only the second time he had knocked an opponent down in his career. The crowd of 9,023 at the [[Civic Arena (Pittsburgh)|Civic Arena]] in [[Pittsburgh]] gave Robinson several standing ovations, even while he was being thoroughly outperformed by Archer.<ref name="Civic"/>

On November 11, 1965, Robinson announced his retirement from boxing, saying: "I hate to go too long campaigning for another chance."<ref name="retire">[https://www.nytimes.com/1965/11/12/archives/robinson-declares-bout-with-archer-was-his-last-fight.html "Robinson Declares Bout With Archer Was His Last Fight"]. ''The New York Times''. ''Associated Press''. November 12, 1965. Retrieved June 6, 2007.</ref> Robinson retired from boxing with a record of 174–19–6 (2 no contests) with 109 knockouts in 201 professional bouts, ranking him among the all-time leaders in knockouts.