Cassius Clay ~ "He Never Really Shined In the Big Apple {New York City}"

[Bill Paxtom]

Cassis Clay

1st Professional visit to Madison Square Garden.

Saturday ~ February 10, 1962

Attendance..... 2000

Cassius Clay ~ 10-0-0 {7 KO's}
vs.
Lucien 'Sonny' Banks ~ 16-2-0 {14 KO's}

The 'Jabbering Clay' is heavily favored {5-1} over the hard-hitting left-hooker
from Detroit.

Cassius {Age; 20 years, 1 months} is already ranked as the #9 Heavyweight, and
has issued challenges to Sonny Liston, Ingemar Johansson and Eddie Machen.

The 6' 3" ~ 194 lb. Cassius has been 'chirping' that he expects to take out Sonny Banks
in 4-Rounds.

Cassius Clay >
"I'm a ranked Heavyweight. If I lose to Sonny, then I'll leave this country and retire.
He's a pretty good fighter, but he's not World Class. I hear he's been knocking out
quite a few boys in Detroit with his left-hook. He'll have to bring more than that into
the Ring if he wants to beat me."

Cassius has been working out at the City Parks Gym in New York City, and has been
impressive with his speed. But, he looks amateurish in his defense and has been getting
tagged by his sparring partners. Trainer - Angelo Dundee said that he was 'a bit worried'
because Sonny Banks packs a good wallop with his left-hook.

Cassius is coming off an impressive {TKO 7} win over 29 year-old veteran Willi Besmanoff
on November 29, 1961 in Louisville, Kentucky.

Angelo Dundee >
"I keep telling Cassius, right-hand up. He has a tendency to pull back with his hands down,
and he's vulnerable to a wide left hook. But, he's so fast, that he can avoid them
by a whisker. I'm still worried though."

Lucien 'Sonny' Banks >
The 6' 2" ~ 191 lbs. banger from Detroit. Lucien {Age; 21 years, 7 months} who goes by the
moniker of 'Sonny', has also been called 'Six Gun', 'KO' and 'The New Young Joe Louis".
Sonny is ranked at #17, and is a dangerous puncher.

Sonny is a popular 'house fighter' at the Graystone Ballroom in Detroit.

Ted Ewald {Manager} >
"We have nothing to lose here in New York. That's the way we like it, with Sonny as
an Underdog. If my kid catches Clay with just one left hook, he'll drop him. We can't
match Clay in speed or boxing skills, but we can out-slug him. Sonny will nail him for
sure, then we'll see if this kid can get up."

Sonny Banks >
The young slugger is strictly an offensive fighter who throws wide bombs, especially
with the left-hand. Sonny has a good hand-speed, and fires a quick-and-wicked
left hook with awesome power.

But, Sonny has slow footwork and his defense is porous. Sonny usually comes in
straight forward and with his hands held a bit too low, and is easily tagged.

Sonny is the Michigan State Heavyweight Champion {Won title on August 7, 1961} by
stopping {TKO 7} 'Big Willie' Coleman. Sonny has also scored win over {KO 2 ~ Tunney Hunsaker},
the same fighter who took Cassius 6-Rounds in his Professional Debut.

And, only 2-weeks earlier {January 27, 1962} Sonny defeated {KO 2} the highly regarded
'Showboat' Clay Thomas who had a record of 19-3-2 {7 KO's}.