By the spring of 1959, 20 year-old Amos Johnson was the #1 United States Amateur Light-Heavyweight, by compiling a record of 53-2 (22 KO's).

The United States Marine from Stockton, California Light-Heavyweight discussing his amateur victory over Cassius Clay.

"During sparring sessions in Madison, Wisconsin, I noticed how he
would pull straight back with his hands down.

You could get away with that with most fighters, because they didn't move quickly.

But I was as quick as Cassius, so when he pulled back, I quickly stepped
forward and threw the straight left, right on his lip.

If you tried to throw a hook from that far away, he would have time to
avoid it, and come back with a quick counter. But, the straight left from
my southpaw stance, he couldn't avoid it.

When we met in the trials in the 1st-Round, I let him
get away with that move.

But in the 2nd-Round, the first time he tried it, I made him eat my left hand, and
I bloodied his lip. He tried it a few more times, and each time I landed my left
hand. By the end of Round 2, his lower lip was messed up bad.

In Round 3, he was completely confused on how to avoid my left hand. So
he just ran, and flicked out a few jabs, which I easily countered
with my right hooks.

At the end of the 3-Round Final, his coach walked over to me and congratulated me,
and said that I was the best fighter at the Trials."

--Amos Johnson