Cassius Clay vs. Tunney Hunsaker
1960 boxing match
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Cassius Clay vs. Tunney Hunsaker was a professional boxing match contested on October 29, 1960. It was the first professional bout contested by Muhammad Ali (then known as Cassius Clay).[1]
Advertisement for the fight in The Courier-Journal | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date | October 29, 1960 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Venue | Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tale of the tape | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Result | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Clay won in 6 rounds by unanimous decision | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Background
In his professional debut, 1960 Olympic light heavyweight boxing champion Cassius Clay fought Tunney Hunsaker in a six-round match. The fight was advertised as having proceeds go towards Kosair Crippled Children Hospital.[1]
The fight
Clay won the bout through a unanimous decision on points, winning every round. Hunsaker's nose began to bleed in the third round and a cut opened over his eye in the fourth. Despite this, The Courier-Journal described the fight as "neither fighter ever had the other in trouble and gave the crowd of 6,180 little to cheer about".[1]
Aftermath
Hunsaker commented of Clay after the fight, "He's awfully good for an 18 year old and as fast as a middleweight", but also said he thought he won the first and last rounds and that Clay never hurt him at any time.[1]
Hunsaker was a part-time boxer who was for many years a respected police officer in Fayetteville, West Virginia. He also helped to train young fighters, and he and Ali were friends for many years afterwards. In a 1980 Sports Illustrated article, Hunsaker said he didn't agree with Ali's refusal to be drafted during the Vietnam War, but that he still respected him greatly as a fighter and as a man.[2][3][4]
Undercard
Confirmed bouts:[5]
