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Matthew Saad Muhammad
Boxing Autograph
An Action 8x10 Photo signed by Mathew Saad
Muhammad. This boxing champion and inductee into the hall
of fame signed this photo from one of his two title fights
against Britain's John Conteh.
Matthew Saad
Muhammad
£25.00
THE STORY of Matthew Saad Muhammad is one
of the most compelling in boxing. Abandoned as a child,
he fought his way to the light heavyweight championship
and now the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
Born Maxwell Antonio Loach, his mother died when he was
five years old. He and his older brother moved in with an
aunt, but she couldn’t afford to raise both children
so she instructed the older brother to get rid of his sibling.
Saad Muhammad was then led to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway,
where his older brother simply ran away from him. Saad Muhammad
remembered how hard he tried to keep up with his brother,
but couldn’t. When the police found him, they took
him to the Catholic Social Services and the nuns gave him
the name Matthew, after the saint, and Franklin, after the
parkway where he was found.
He turned pro in his native Philadelphia in 1974 under
the name the nuns had given him -- Matthew Franklin. It
wouldn't take long before everyone in the boxing world knew
his name. He took an aggressive path to the top and after
just 18 pro fights he was saddled with three losses and
two draws. Each setback, though, came against quality opposition.
His losses were to future champions Marvin Camel and Eddie
Mustafa Muhammad and one of the draws came against another
future champ, Mate Parlov.
In 1977, in just his 21st pro fight, Matthew knocked out
veteran Marvin Johnson in the 12th round to win the NABF
light heavyweight crown. He defended that title with wins
over Billy Douglas, Richie Kates and Yaqui Lopez.
By 1979, he was ready to challenge for the world title
and the WBC champion was his old nemesis, Marvin Johnson.
They met on April 22nd in Johnson's hometown of Indianapolis
and the showdown was a classic. Bleeding from cuts above
both eyes, Matthew scored an eighth-round knockout to win
the title. The Eighth Round of that fight was named "Round
of the Year" by The Ring magazine. Shortly after becoming
champion, he converted to Islam and changed his name to
Matthew Saad Muhammad.
Saad Muhammad was an action fighter who displayed tremendous
recuperative powers in the ring. He was often hurt, but
rarely stopped. Saad Muhammad was known throughout his career
for his immense heart and his numbing power. He made eight
successful world title defenses, seven of which came by
knockout. Among his victims were John Conteh (W15, KO 4),
Louis Pergaud (KO 5), Yaqui Lopez (KO 14), Lotte Mwale (KO
4), Vonzell Johnson (KO 11), Murray Sutherland (KO 9) and
Jerry Martin (KO 11).
Finally, on December 19, 1981, Saad Muhammad ran into Dwight
Muhammad Qawi and lost the crown via 10th-round knockout.
In a rematch with Qawi eight months later, he was stopped
in the sixth round.
Saad's 1980 title defense against Yaqui Lopez was named
"Fight of the Year" by The Ring magazine. The
first half of the fight was dominated by Lopez and in Round
Eight (also named "Round of the Year") Lopez pinned
Saad Muhammad in a corner and landed 20 consecutive blows.
That served as a wakeup call. Saad Muhammad dominated the
remainder of the fight and scored a 14th-round knockout.
"Matthew Miracle" had done it again.
