1962 ~ Cassius Clay goes from #10 Ranking to #2 ~ "What the F***"

[Bill Paxtom]

1962

Cassius Clay leap frogged from the #10 Ranking to #2.

It pays to have good friends in high places, as well as having a connected Management Team.

Let's take a look see.

January 1962 Ratings

*** Floyd Patterson
#1 . Sonny Liston
#2 . Eddie Machen
#3 . Zora Folley
#4 . Alejandro Lavorante
#5 . Robert Cleroux
#6 . Ingemar Johansson
#7 . Cleveland Williams
#8 . Henry Cooper
#9 . George Logan
#10 Cassius Clay

As of January 1962, Cassius Clay {Age; 20 years, 0 months} had compiled a record of 10-0-0 {7 KO's}.

The youngster's meteoric rise was a combination of talent, publicity, smart management and loquacious behavior.

After turning Professional on October 29, 1960 ~ it took Cassius only 14-Months to reach the #10 Heavyweight
ranking.

Cassius had his best wins over his last '2' opponents.
* October 7, 1971 ......... TKO 6 ~ Alex Miteff
* November 29, 1971 .... TKO 7 ~ Willi Besmanoff

Before those '2' wins, Cassius had a near disaster against 'light-hitting' Alonzo Johnson. Cassius was lucky to escape
with a controversial 'Majority' 10-Round Decision over Alonzo on July 27th in a Nationally Televised bout.

[Bill Paxtom]

February 10, 1962

Cassius Clay's '1st-Bout' in 1962.

Madison Square Garden ~ New York, New York

Nationally Televised Bout

Cassius Clay ~ 10-0-0 {7 KO's} ~ 6' 3" ~ 194 lbs. ~ {Age; 20 years, 1 month}
vs.
Lucien 'Sonny' Banks ~ 16-2-0 {14 KO's} ~ 6' 2" ~ 191 lbs. ~ {Age; 21 years, 7 months}

Lucien Banks was a young and powerful Detroit Heavyweight, with a 'big and quick' left hook.
He had been only competing in the Pro Ranks for 21-Months {Turned pro; May 19, 1960}

Lucien had several monikers "
* Sonny
* Six Gun
* KO
* Detroit Bomber
* The Young Joe Louis
* Assemblyman Hammer

'Sonny' Banks was a hard-hitter yes. Offensively he was devastating. But he had a porous defense and had
problems with fast-handed fighters. He also had a 'shaky' chin, primarily because he came in straight forward
with his hands held too low.

'Sonny' was riding a 10-Bout winning streak, with '9' bouts coming way by a 'Knockout'. In the Rankings, 'Sonny'
was listed at #24.

'Sonny' was the Michigan State Heavyweight Champion, and was coming off a {KO 2} over Tunney Hunsaker
on {October 16, 1961}, the same fighter who took Cassius 6-Rounds in his Professional debut.

Betting Odds ........ 5-1 {Cassius Clay}

The best bet for Sonny Banks, was to come out bombing, and try to catch Cassius with his left-hook. Sonny would
have major problems with Cassius' speed and elusiveness, and would run into big problems if the bout went past
4-Rounds.

The Fight

In front of a crowd of 2100 at Madison Square Garden >

The fight started off at Center-Ring, as both fighters looked to score and counter.

As expected, Cassius exploded at the mid-way point in the3 session, and tried to overwhelm Sonny Banks with a
'two-fisted' barrage. Cassius caught Sonny with a flurry and drove him backwards into the front left Neutral-Corner
at the 1:35 Mark.

Cassius then poured it on, but left his guard down. Suddenly, Sonny exploded with a quick 'wicked-ass' left-hook'
counter that caught Cassis flush on the chin at the {1:47 Mark}

'BOOM' down went Cassius on his 'ASS'. But, he bounced back up at the 2-Count, and moved to Center-Ring. The
Referee administered the 'Mandatory 8-Count' as Cassius backed up on 'shaky-pins' to the back left Corner.

While there, Cassius 'grabbed' the top strands of the Ropes. At {1:56} the action resumed. The action was
'even' for the rest of the Round as both fighters exchanged good punches.

By the beginning Round 2, Cassius had cleared his head.

Cassius was then back to boxing while Sonny went back to stalking and looking for the 'one-punch' left-hook.
By the {1:00 Mark}. Cassius was starting to get the better of the action, and appeared to shake Sonny as
he landed a fast-flurry on Sonny as he was coming in.

At the {1:39} Sonny went down near the left-side Ropes as he was coming forward. Sonny was up immediately,
and the Referee ruled that it was a 'Slip'.

The action resumed, with Cassius firing straight 'one-two' punches as Sonny again looked for the Home-Run. At
the {2:19 Mark}, Cassius caught Sonny with left-hook to the chin near the front Center-Ropes. Sonny went
down on the 'seat-of-his-pants, but got up immediately at the 1-Count.

After Sonny took the '8-Count', the action resumed at the {2:29 Mark} as Sonny looked to be fine. Cassius
scored with a few more 'left-right' punches as Sonny swung with a few wide hooks as the Round ended.

In Round 3, Cassius did the boxing and Sonny was doing the catching over the first 2-Minutes. Sonny was
having trouble with Cassius' speed and was forced to a defensive posture.

At the [2:30 Mark} Cassius opened up. It was all Cassius, as he repeatedly stung Sonny with 'left-right'
combinations to the head. Sonny appeared to not take a good punch well, and was badly shaken several times.

But each time that Cassius poured it on, Sonny would recover and counter with a left-hook.

Near the end of Round 3, Sonny was wobbling as he walked back to his corner.

Surprisingly, Sonny came out aggressive for Round 4. But at the {0:18 Mark} of the Round, he was stung by a
combination, and then moments later he was wobbled by a 'grazing' left-hook to the temple area. Sonny then
moved sideways to the Front-Center ropes. Cassius then added in a straight 'left and right' to the head, and
the Referee moved in and stopped the bout at {0:26 of Round 4}

Sonny, who was not floored, complained about the apparently fast stoppage.

The 2100 fans at Madison Square Garden vehemently boo'ed the quick stoppage.

Result > TKO 4
Referee > Ruby Goldstein

It was a very good offensive performance by Cassius. But it did show that he was vulnerable to a quick left-hook to the chin.

Cassius did show that he could take a solid blow, and get up from it, and fight well afterwards.

[Master]

Wow that Cassius Clay needs exposing. How can he do that! That is disgusting. Luckily Clay never amounted to much and we can all rest in peace at this great injustice.

BTW you do know that it is 2014 right?

[Beanflicker]

Cassius is #1 all time.

[Beanflicker]

Such fast hands and feet Cassius has, I doubt anyone today could touch him.

[p4pking]

What a pampered little hype job, I bet Malcolm X is pulling strings for him. Someone needs to make to bring these guys to justice, they are poising the resolve of our youth. Vietnam will be lost if Cassius has his way, someone should ban him from fighting!!

[Bill Paxtom]

If Cassius Clay had gone to Vietnam

The US Army stated that Cassius would probably be the first Infantryman to be shot.........By His Own Men.

[ruthless rocco]

If Cassius Clay had gone to Vietnam

The US Army stated that Cassius would probably be the first Infantryman to be shot.........By His Own Men.

You are a douche.

[Bill Paxtom]

If Cassius Clay had gone to Vietnam

The US Army stated that Cassius would probably be the first Infantryman to be shot.........By His Own Men.

You are a douche.

I take it that you're an expert on Douche products.

Private First Class; Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr.

[Bill Paxtom]

Just 18-Days after defeating Lucien 'Six Gun Sonny' Banks

February 28, 1962

Cassius Clay ~ 11-0-0 {8 KO's} ~ 6' 3" ~ 195 lbs. ~ {Age; 20 years, 1 month}
vs.
Don Warner ~ 17-6-2 {16 KO's} ~ 6' 1" ~ 189 lbs. ~ {Age; 22 years, 5 months}

Convention Center ~ Miami Beach, Florida

Don Warner, a Philadelphia Banger and 'knockout artist'. Don brings in a hard right-hand and an aggressive style.
But, Don has a suspect chin, and a horrible defense to go along with a wide-open attack.

Don's moniker was 'Dr. Knockout'.

A one-time 'Hot Prospect', when he turned Professional in September 1958 as a 19 year-old. Don went 10-1-2 {9 KO's}
in 15-Months, and was impressive enough to be selected as a Ring Magazine 'Prospect of the Month' {January 1959}

But, since January 1960 Don has gone 7-5-0. Though he has scored '7' Knockouts over that time span, he has also
been stopped '3-Times' in those 5 losses.

Don is coming off an impressive {TKO 1} over Orrie 'Obie' Paschall on February 1, 1962 in Philadelphia.

Though Cassius is expected to win, this is a 'minor' test for him, as the 'Philadelphia KO Artist' has a wicked right-hand.

The Fight

At the Bell, Don Warner comes out 'winging' looking for the quick Knockout. He takes the lead over the first {1:00}, but
Cassius gets down to better boxing over the second-half of the session to 'even' the Round.

In Round 2, Don continues to wing right-hand bombs, but Cassius is too quick, and stays clear and boxes with long-range
left-jabs while moving side-to-side.

In Round 3, Don is able to close-the-distance, and is able to catch Cassius with few grazing right-hands. At the {1:50 Mark}
Don catches Cassius with his potent right-hand and freezes him for a flash, and then wobbles him with a follow up right-hand
to the chin. Don attacks wildly, but misses with his follow-up punches.

Cassius recovers, and comes back with his own flurry to stall Don's attack. Then at the {2:55 Mark}, Don lands a jolting
right-hand to Cassius' chin that sends him backwards into the Corner. Don moves in fast, and just misses the finisher
as the Bell sounds ending Round 3.

Opening Round 4, Don 'bolts' from his corner and comes flying across the Ring to meet Cassius. But Don walks straight
into a lead right-hand punch. Cassius throws a punch that lands on the point of Don's chin.

Don then crashes sideways into the Ropes, and is given an '8-Count' by Referee - Cy Gottfried. Don gets up, but he is
in a 'complete daze'. The Referee allows it to continue. Cassius then pours a barrage on Don over the next 15-Seconds
before the Referee stops it at the {0:34 Mark} of Round 4.

[brocktonblockbust]

If Cassius Clay had gone to Vietnam

The US Army stated that Cassius would probably be the first Infantryman to be shot.........By His Own Men.

sounds lıke a Rodney Dangerfıeld lıne. Pretty funny, but why do you HATE Ali so much?

[Bill Paxtom]

If Cassius Clay had gone to Vietnam

The US Army stated that Cassius would probably be the first Infantryman to be shot.........By His Own Men.

sounds lıke a Rodney Dangerfıeld lıne. Pretty funny, but why do you HATE Ali so much?

Serious Thought

Just what could Cassius Clay have been qualified to do in the United States Military.

Maybe work in the kitchen or the laundry.

He sure wasn't qualified to be a Gunner or a Helicopter Pilot.

[ruthless rocco]

If Cassius Clay had gone to Vietnam

The US Army stated that Cassius would probably be the first Infantryman to be shot.........By His Own Men.

sounds lıke a Rodney Dangerfıeld lıne. Pretty funny, but why do you HATE Ali so much?

Serious Thought

Just what could Cassius Clay have been qualified to do in the United States Military.

Maybe work in the kitchen or the laundry.

He sure wasn't qualified to be a Gunner or a Helicopter Pilot.

He was black so he was qualified to be killed for no good reason.

Now shut your stupid fucking face and shove your Ali hating hard on up your own ass.

[Bill Paxtom]

March 1962

As per 'Ring Magazine'

Young Cassius was still ranked #10.

Though Cassius won both of his early-1962 bouts by TKO 4 wins and was impressive.
He was not completely dominating, and could be tagged.

He was floored by Sonny Banks, and staggered 'twice by Don Warner.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Writer - Jim Carlson

"Cassius is young, brash and fast. He has lightning quick hands and is a very accurate puncher.
He is still developing power for his young age {20 years, 2 months}, and he will grow bigger
than the 195 lbs. he currently carries."

"He still has a bad habit of dropping his hands, and is susceptible to left-hooks to the chin, and
quick right-hands over the top. I've seen him shaken several times in his short career."

"His next opponent is #12 ranked - George Logan, a rough-and-tough brawler from Utah who
uses constant pressure with a mauling offense. He will be the strongest fighter that Young Cassius
has faced so far. He is not in Cassius' league as boxer, but he will be the toughest opponent yet."

"If the 'Boise Brawler' is able to smother Cassius with his size and strength, and avoid getting cut,
he may able to sweep the last few Rounds, and may steal a Decision over Clay at the Sports Arena
in Los Angeles."

[brocktonblockbust]