THRILLA IN MANILA GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY 8 - MUHAMMAD ALI A.K.A. CASSIUS CLAY TURNS PROFESSIONAL
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Thu, 12 Jun 2025
Cassius Clay fought his professional debut on October 29, 1960, winning a six-round decision over Tunney Hunsaker. From his first fight until the end of 1963, Clay was undefeated with a record of 19–0 with 15 wins by way of knockout.
He defeated boxers including Herb Siler, Tony Esperti, Jim Robinson, Alex Miteff, Donnie Fleeman, Duke Sabedong, Sonny Banks, Alonzo Johnson, Don Warner, George Logan, Willi Besmanoff, LaMar Clark, Billy Daniels, Alejandro Lavorante, Charlie Powell, Doug Jones, and Henry Cooper. Clay also beat his former trainer and veteran boxer Archie Moore in November 1962.
Some of these fights were not easy wins. Clay was knocked down by Sonny Banks and also by Henry Cooper. In his Cooper bout, Clay was floored by a left hook at the end of round four and was saved by the bell, but went on to win the fight in his predicted fifth round due to Cooper's nasty cut in the eye.
The fight with Doug Jones on March 13, 1963 was considered by many as Clay's toughest fight in his early professional years. The number two heavyweight contender Clay and the number three heavyweight contender Jones fought on Jones' territory at New York's Madison Square Garden. Jones clobbered Clay in the opening round, and his unanimous decision victory was greeted by boos and a rain of debris thrown into the ring by disgusted fans.
In each of these fights, Clay vocally ridiculed his opponents and bragged his skills. He labeled Jones "an ugly little man" and Cooper a "bum". He said he was humiliated to fight in the ring with Alex Miteff and stated that Madison Square Garden was "too small for me".
Ali's trash talking was influenced by professional wrestler "Gorgeous George" Wagner's style, after he was inspired by George's talking ability which attracted big audiences in his fights. In a 1969 interview he stated that he met with George in Las Vegas in 1961, that George told him that trash talking would earn large number of paying fans who either wanted to see him win or wanted to see him lose. That's the reason why Clay made himself a "big-mouth and a bragger" as he described himself.
In 1960, Clay abandoned Moore's camp, as Clay reportedly refused to do chores such as washing dishes and sweeping. In Moore's place, Clay hired Angelo Dundee to become his trainer. Clay had met Dundee in February 1957 during Clay's amateur days. Around this time, Clay attempted to hire his longtime idol Sugar Ray Robinson to become his manager, but failed.
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