Cassius Clay vs. Willi Besmanoff

Cassius Clay vs. Willi Besmanoff

Date	November 29, 1961
Venue	Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky
Tale of the tape
Boxer Cassius Clay Willi Besmanoff Nickname "The Louisville Lip" Hometown Louisville, Kentucky, U.S. Munich, Bayern, West Germany Pre-fight record 9–0 (6 KO) 44–27–7 (16 KO) Age 19 years, 10 months 29 years, 1 month Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) 5 ft 11 in (180 cm) Weight 193 lb (88 kg) 205+1⁄4 lb (93 kg) Style Orthodox Orthodox Recognition 1960 Olympic light heavyweight Gold Medallist
Result
Clay won by TKO in 7st round (1:55)

Cassius Clay vs. Willi Besmanoff was a professional boxing match contested on November 29, 1961.^[1][2]

Background

In the co-feature Holley Mims faced James Ellis in scheduled 10 rounder.

The fight

Clay won the bout through a technical knockout in the seventh round after the referee stopped the fight with Besmanoff sprawled on his back on the canvas.^[3][4][5]

Aftermath

Speaking after the bout Clay would say that his speed is the asset in which he has the greatest confidence telling reporters "Guys just can't see it. They underestimate my ability".^[6][7][8][9]

Undercard

Confirmed bouts:^[10]

References

1. "Muhammad Ali vs. Willi Besmanoff". boxrec.com. BoxRec. Retrieved 18 August 2024.
2. "Muhammad Ali's ring record". ESPN. 19 November 2003. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
3. "Clay looking to big time". Kentucky New Era. 30 November 1961. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
4. "Cass Clay Puts Besmanoff Away In 7th". St. Petersburg Times. 30 November 1961. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
5. "Brevard Man Fought Liston, Clay". Daytona Beach Morning Journal. 13 November 1964. Retrieved 14 October 2016.
6. Thomas Hauser (1991). Muhammad Ali: His Life and Times. Simon & Schuster. pp. 43.
7. Felix Dennis & Don Atyeo (2003). Muhammad Ali: The Glory Years. miramax books. pp. 58–62.
8. Michael Ezra (2009). Muhammad Ali:The Making of an Icon. Temple University Press. pp. 32.
9. Jose Torres (2009). Sting like a bee: The Muhammad Ali story. TBS The Book Service Ltd. p. 106.
10. "BoxRec - event".

Preceded by vs. Alex Miteff	Cassius Clay's bouts 29 November 1961	Succeeded by vs. Sonny Banks
Preceded by vs. Alejandro Lavorante	Willi Besmanoff's bouts 29 November 1961	Succeeded by vs. Herb Siler