Randolph's father was from Guyana and invalided to Warwick from the battle fields of the Great War. He married a local girl. Randolph was born in nearby Leamington Spa. The Turpin family moved back to Warwick when Randolph was small. He attended Westgate School and trained in a Warwick gymnasium. After a glittering amateur career, Randolph served with the Royal Navy. His finest hour as a professional boxer came when he dramatically out-fought the legendary American middleweight Sugar Ray Robinson, to become Britain's first black World Champion. In 2001 Randolph Turpin was posthumously inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in recognition of his outstanding achievements in the ring.