THE NIGHTS WHEN “THE GREATEST” WAS NOT!
San Francisco, CA– Although Muhammad Ali’s final record stands at 56-5, 37 KOs, there were a few instances in which the former “Louisville Lip” certainly got the benefit of a doubt. In every great fighter’s career, “home cooking” appears on their pugilistic resumes. Take Joe Louis, the time he left the ring after Joe Walcott beat him like a rag doll, on;y to have to come back to the ring to get announced as the obviously undeserved winner.
COUPLE OF ROUGH MOMENTS FOR THE PRE-ALI “CLAY”
Before we get to the fights in which I thought were questionable, Cassius Clay had fought a decent cast of journeyman leading up to his fight with Doug Jones, the first “fringe” contender type Clay would fight. Included in those trial horses, 17 in total, there was the 43-2 Lamar Mack in his sixth pro fight. In what was his first ten rounder and performing in his native Louisville, KY, Cassius Clay Jr. retired Mack with a knockout in two in August 1961.
FEW REMEMBER THE FIRST SONNY DROPPED CASSIUS!
In 1962, Sonny Banks dropped a very embarrassed Clay with a left hook. “It doesn’t look good when the greatest fighter in the world is on the floor, so I had to get up and get him out of there in four, instead of six.”
PRE-ALI CLAY MAKES “BIG APPLE” DEBUT
The first questionable decision in which a young Cassius Clay was involved came in at 17 & zip with 11 shorts. The fight was the first for the 1960 Olympic Gold Medalist in Madison Square Garden and the “Big Apple” press contingent led by Dick Young, they were out in mass. After ten rounds in which Jones seemingly outworked the 19-year old Cassius.
RAZOR CLOSE DECISION AT THE END
But when the scores were read, referee Joe LoScalzo tabbed things 8-1-1 Clay. Judge: Frank Forbes and Artie Aidla both gave Cassius a 5-4-1 win in rounds. In going to 18-0, Cassius felt the sting of the crowd’s booing for the first time in winning.
THERE WERE A NUMBER OF CLOSE FIGHTS
Sure, Ali was involved in a number of matches, especially in that second tier of his boxing life that began after Governor Lester Maddox of Georgia allowed him to return to boxing and fight Jerry Quarry in Atlanta in October 1970, this after the New York State Athletic Commission and others stripped the now Muhammad Ali of his championship in 1967 after outclassing an older Zora Foley.
RON LYLE WAS AHEAD ON THE CARDS!
Ron Lyle
Two fights removed from the “Thrilla’ in Manilla,” Ali would face the underrated ex-con Ron Lyle of Denver, CO. From the start, Lyle was beating a tired Ali to the punch and led after ten rounds with judge Bill Kipp giving Lyle nine out of ten rounds. Art Lurie had Lyle up by a point, and 49-43, while John Mangriciana had it even at 46-46.
ALI IS SHOT BY THIS TIME & FIGHTING ON FUMES
Lyle, who had been 12 twice beating Jimmy Ellis and Oscar Bonavena, but losing to Jerry Quarry, was tiring a bit, this after bringing it from the first bell. Ali landed a few soft punches, Lyle was rocked a bit in round 11. Sans Lyle hitting the deck, the fight was abruptly stopped by referee Fred Hernandez at the 1:08 mark of round 11. If ever there was an instance where a boxer should be given the benefit of a doubt, it is when he is handily beating the world heavyweight champion.
TOMORROW: THE JIMMY YOUNG FIGHT IN DC!
In our second installment, we look at the old, already beaten, well past his prime Ali meets the non-punching Jimmy Young in 1978. Tuesday at RingTalk.com
Pedro Fernandez