Ronnie Smith Robinson (25 September 1938April 2001Bill Gallo, "These Debates Can Be Hair-Raising", New York Daily News, 22 April 2001.) was an American roller derby skater and coach.
The son of boxer Sugar Ray Robinson, Robinson grew up distant from his father, who divorced his mother shortly before his birth. Herb Royd and Ray Robinson, Pound for Pound: A Biography of Sugar Ray Robinson. Sugar Ray advised Ronnie not to follow him into the world of boxing.Chester Higgins, "People Are Talking About", Jet, 4 February 1971, p. 42. After watching roller derby on television, he decided to join the sport, and enrolled in its training school in March 1958, initially under the pseudonym "Ronald Smith." He turned professional after five months, being placed on the New York Chiefs team."Sugar Ray's Skating Son", Ebony, October 1960, p. 65.
Robinson was the fourth African American to play roller derby professionally, after Maurice Plummer, George Copeland, and Darlene Anderson. He was a member of the All-Star team for more than ten consecutive years, and was twice named the Most Valuable Player."The Old Brawl Game", Ebony, November 1973, pp. 56-62. On one occasion, Robinson fractured his arm in several places, and was unsure whether he would ever be able to use it again. He also lost his front teeth in a fight with Bob Woodberry, and suffered several concussions.
In 2004 Robinson was inducted to the Roller Derby Hall of Fame.
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