Muhammad Ali vs Alonzo Johnson

Venue: Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky. 22nd July, 1961.

Cassius clay was beginning to attract attention, partly for his outspokenness, but mostly for his irresistible skill in the ring. He was about to become the first fighter just out of the amateur ranks to have his fights shown on national television. Teddy Brenner, who was the matchmaker at Madison square garden, had responsibility of finding 50 fights per year for the Gillette cavalcade of sports programme. Most of these bouts took place at the garden, but others took place around the US. Brenner decided the time was right for the Olympic hero to make his small-screen debut. Alonzo Johnson was another seasoned pro, a cute operator minus a destructive punch. He was also the first nationally ranked fighter to step into the ring with clay.

Cassius Clay

It was to prove another tough night. It was a sultry southern summer in Louisville and the ring grew even hotter under the wash of the TV lights. The fight went the full 10 rounds and by their end, clay was lathered in sweat. When the referee raised his arm, his hometown crowd turned on him. They booed and hissed the decision and for the first time, the golden boy realised that boxing could be a fickle business.

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