On This Day: The 'St. Valentine's Day Massacre' - Robinson vs. LaMotta VI
While most of the world celebrated Valentine's Day with chocolates and flowers, in Chicago, the sport of boxing was about to witness a different kind of exchange. On this night, two ring legends, Sugar Ray Robinson and Jake LaMotta, met for the sixth and final time in a ferocious, unforgettable showdown.
The prize? The undisputed World Middleweight Championship.
A Rivalry For The Ages
The LaMotta-Robinson saga is one of the most storied in boxing history, a gritty epic that began nearly a decade earlier.
Robinson: A supremely gifted athlete, often called the greatest pound-for-pound fighter of all time, known for his speed, grace, and devastating knockout power.
LaMotta: The "Raging Bull," a relentless, brawling pressure fighter with an iron chin and an almost masochistic ability to absorb punishment.
Their previous five encounters had already cemented their legendary status. LaMotta handed Robinson the first defeat of his professional career in 1943, but Robinson consistently proved to be the superior technician, holding a 4-1 record coming into the final bout.
The Build-Up: A Grudge Match for the Crown
The stakes for this sixth meeting were the highest yet. LaMotta held the Middleweight title, and Robinson, after a distinguished career at welterweight, was determined to claim the 160-pound crown.
The fight took place at the Chicago Stadium, and the atmosphere was electric. Boxing experts knew that while Robinson was favourite, LaMotta had the power and grit to change the script in an instant. This was more than a title fight; it was the final chapter in a decade-long, deeply personal, and often savage rivalry.
The 'Massacre' on Valentine's Day
The fight itself earned its grim moniker, the 'St. Valentine's Day Massacre,' for the sheer brutality and one-sided punishment inflicted, particularly in the later rounds.
For the first eight rounds, it was a classic LaMotta-Robinson fight: LaMotta relentlessly moved forward, attempting to corner and batter Robinson's body, while Robinson used his signature footwork to dance, jab, and counter-punch effectively.
However, as the fight entered the championship rounds, the fatigue and cumulative damage began to take its toll on the Raging Bull.
Round 13: This is the round that became instantly legendary. Robinson, sensing his opponent was drained, launched a relentless, sustained barrage. LaMotta, true to form, refused to go down. He was battered from pillar to post, staggering against the ropes, but always finding a way to stay upright. The image of the bloodied, swollen LaMotta taking punch after punch without dropping is perhaps the most famous visual of the entire rivalry.
The Finish: Early in the 14th round, the referee, Frank Sikora, finally stepped in. LaMotta, completely helpless and unable to defend himself, was saved from further punishment.
The result: Sugar Ray Robinson defeated Jake LaMotta by TKO in the 14th round.
The Undisputed King
With this victory, Sugar Ray Robinson achieved what he had set out to do, becoming the undisputed World Middleweight Champion. He proved conclusively, for the sixth time, that he was the superior fighter.
For Jake LaMotta, it was a valiant defeat and the defining moment of his legendary toughness. Post-fight, the sight of LaMotta, bruised and broken but still standing, solidified his legend as the fighter who simply could not be knocked out.
The 1951 St. Valentine's Day Massacre remains one of the most iconic fights in boxing history, a brutal, beautiful culmination of a rivalry between two contrasting titans, ending with the coronation of the undisputed king of the ring.
