By Rebecca Billman
The Cincinnati Enquirer

George "Sugar" Costner was a contender.

On July 12, 1950, the Cincinnati prizefighter took on the lightweight champion of the world, Ike Williams.

Mr. Costner thrashed him in the non-title bout - winning all 10 rounds on one judge's scorecard and eight rounds on the cards of the other two.

The victory made Mr. Costner the No. 1 contender to face another "Sugar" - welterweight champion Ray Robinson.

Mr. Costner was hoping the third time would be the charm. "Sugar" Ray Robinson - considered by many the best boxer in history, pound for pound - had defeated him twice before. But that third boxing match didn't take place. While Mr. Costner was a winner in the ring, he lost his eyesight. He had suffered detached retinas in both eyes, and he never fought again.

Yet, in the manner of a true champion, the Cincinnati slugger overcame blindness and got a college degree in business administration - at age 56.

Mr. Costner died Saturday at Harmony Court Nursing Home in Roselawn. He was 79. His nickname - Sugar - indicated his proficiency in the brutal sport known as "the sweet science." In addition to sweet moves in the ring, he packed a powerful punch. Mr. Costner scored 58 knockout victories in his 98 prizefights.

He fought his first pro bout at 15, knocking out "Red" Knox in the second round. Mr. Costner followed that with 22 straight KOs.

He fought some of the greatest names in boxing. In addition to Mr. Robinson, he battled Jake "The Bronx Bull" LaMotta and Kid Gavilan. He was knocked out by Mr. LaMotta in six rounds, while he beat Mr. Gavilan in 10.

Mr. Costner chalked up his initial loss to Mr. Robinson - by a knockout in the first round in February 1945 - to inexperience.

When the two Sugars met again, in March 1950, it was 10 months after Mr. Costner had both of his retinas detached in a fight with Chico Varona.

Despite the injuries, he knocked out Mr. Varona in the 10th round. By the time of his rematch with Mr. Robinson, Mr. Costner had no vision in his right eye. Mr. Robinson knocked him out - again in the first round.

Mr. Costner fought three more times. All were wins, including the thrashing he dealt the lightweight champ, Mr. Williams. But the handicap was too great to risk another match with the dangerous Mr. Robinson.

Then Mr. Costner went completely blind. Finding no work, he became homeless. In 1951, he got a job as a shipping clerk and began to rebuild his life.

At the age of 52, Mr. Costner became a student at Cleveland State, taking four buses a day to and from classes. He earned a bachelor's degree in business administration in 1979.

"It was like winning the championship of the world," Mr. Costner recalled in 1995.

He worked as an intake specialist for the Ohio Civil Rights Commission until 1985.

Survivors include: two sisters, Mae Scott and Norma Buckingham, both of Roselawn; two sons, George Costner Jr. of Dayton, Ohio, and Alvin Costner of College Hill; a daughter, Carolyn Dawkins of College Hill; and several grandchildren.

Visitation: 10-11:30 a.m. Friday at Thompson, Hall & Jordan Funeral Home, 2625 Gilbert Ave., Walnut Hills, followed by the funeral. Interment at Spring Grove Cemetery mausoleum.

E-mail rbillman@enquirer.com