Clay's next fight was against Britain's Henry Cooper, who knocked Clay down with a left hook near the end of the fourth round. The fight was named 'Fight of the Year' for 1963. Among Clay's victories were versus Sonny Banks (who knocked him down during the bout), Alejandro Lavorante, and the aged Archie Moore (a boxing legend who had fought over 200 previous fights, and who had been Clay's trainer prior to Angelo Dundee).Ĭlay then won a disputed 10 round decision over Doug Jones, who, despite being lighter than Clay, staggered Clay as soon as the fight started with a right hand, and beat Clay to the punch continually during the fight. He defeated such boxers as Tony Esperti, Jim Robinson (who weighed 160 pounds when he fought Clay), Donnie Fleeman (who had broken ribs going into the fight but fought Clay anyway), Alonzo Johnson, George Logan, Willi Besmanoff, Lamar Clark (who had won his previous 40 bouts by knockout), Doug Jones, and Henry Cooper. From 1960 to 1963, the young fighter amassed a record of 19-0, with 15 knockouts. He won a six-round decision over Tunney Hunsaker, who was the police chief of Fayetteville, West Virginia. In Louisville, October 29, 1960, Cassius Clay won his first professional fight.

Instead, he relied on his ability to avoid a punch. He carried his hands at his sides, rather than the normal boxing style of carrying the hands high to defend the face. Standing at 6' 3' (1.91 m), Ali had a highly unorthodox style for a heavyweight boxer. Ali later changed his name after joining the Nation of Islam and subsequently converted to orthodox Sunni Islam in 1975. He was named after his father, Cassius Marcellus Clay, Sr., (who was named for the 19th century abolitionist and politician Cassius Clay). He won the World Heavyweight Boxing championship three times, and won the North American Boxing Federation championship as well as an Olympic gold medal.Īli was born in Louisville, Kentucky. In 1999, Ali was crowned 'Sportsman of the Century' by Sports Illustrated.

on January 17, 1942) is a retired American boxer. Muhammad Ali (born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. Related subjects: Sports and games people Muhammad Ali

Cassius marcellus clay sr