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

[Bill Paxtom]

Saturday ~ February 10, 1962

Madison Square Garden

Cassius Clay vs. Lucien 'Sonny' Banks.

A 'slim' crowd of only 2100 showed up for this Saturday Night Heavyweight scrap
between two young fighters.

"The Fight"

Cassius came out fast, and started firing away with a flurry of lefts-and-rights at
Center-Ring. Sonny Banks was bewildered by the speed of Cassius' punches, and
was forced to the defensive-mode.

By the {1:00 Mark} Sonny had to back away, and was still on the defensive. At the
{1:35 Mark}, Sonny had to finally back up to the front-left Ring area as Cassius
continued to pour it on.

As Cassius came charging, Sonny ducked low to avoid the punches, and slid to his
right, to the front-left Neutral-Corner at the {1:43 Mark}.

As Cassius kept firing, Sonny came up with a picture perfect left-hook to Cassius' jaw at
the {1:47 Mark}.

"BOOM", Cassius was dumped on his 'ASS' near the front-center Ropes.

Cassius got up quickly at the '2-Count' and bounced on his legs at Center-Ring. As
Referee - Ruby Goldstein stepped in to give the 'Mandatory 8-Count', Cassius backed
up to the back-left Corner on 'a bit shaky legs'.

Cassius suffered a 'delayed' dizziness as he stood in the Corner and draped his long
arms over the top Rope strands.

The Referee had to yank at Cassius' arms after the '8-Count' to get him to step forward
at the {1:56 Mark}.

[Bill Paxtom]

Cassius Clay

"1st Career Bouts in New York"

Saturday Night ~ February 10, 1962 ~ Madison Square Garden

Lucien 'Sonny' Banks ~ 16-2-0 {14 KO's}

* Cassius is caught on the chin by a Sonny Banks counter-punch left hook.
* Cassius is dropped on his 'ASS' for a '2-Count' the 1st-Round, and is 'visibly' shaken.
* Cassius clears the the 'cob-webs' and is back in the fight at the end of Round 1.
* Cassius rallies strong in the 2nd-Round, and scores a 'flash-knockdown' on Sonny.
* Cassius has a very good 3rd-Round, and shakes Sonny several times with jarring punches.
* But, Sonny scores with some 'wild-hooks' from way outside, and stuns Cassius late.
* Cassius rallies at the end of Round 3, and 'stuns' Sonny just before the Bell.
* Cassius shakes Sonny at the beginning of Round 4 with a flurry.
* Sonny recovers, and moves forward to attack.
* Cassius then catches Sonny with a 'grazing' right-hand to the temple.
* Sonny 'wobbles' to the front-center Ropes.
* Referee - Rudy Goldstein 'jumps in' and stops the bout at 0:26 of Round 4 Sonny Banks on his feet.

* The slim crowd of 2100 'vehemently' boo the quick stoppage.

Overall Grade 'B'

Cassius took a 'wicked-ass' punch to the chin, and nearly got his 'Ass' dusted in the 1st-Round.

But Cassius recovered, and by the end of Round 1 he had cleared the 'cob-webs' and
was beginning to take control of the bout.

Cassius proved to those who questioned as the whether he could 'take-a-punch'. He
took a solid heavy punch from Sonny Banks, and came back to win.

[ruthless rocco]

Hey @Bill Paxtom. Can't you just email these to yourself or read them out loud while standing in front of a mirror?

[Bill Paxtom]

I Would Say

That Cassius Clay's 1st-Bout in New York City was not overly impressive.

It was a 'good win' over another young Heavyweight who was a dangerous
puncher.

But, it was not as one-sided as the TKO 4 @ 0.26 indicated.

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