Sonny Banks

Sonny Banks ( born June 29, 1940 in Birmingham Ridge, Massachusetts, † May 13, 1965 in Philadelphia, born Lucien Banks) was an American boxer who thus became known that he was the first professional Muhammad Ali beat to the ground.

Professional career

Banks began his career in 1960. He weighed only 86 to 88 Kg, by today's standards was a cruiserweight, this weight class, it did not exist yet, however. After ten wins and two defeats, he was ( at the time under his birth name Cassius Clay ) made ​​against the unbeaten in ten fights Ali at his New York debut at Madison Square Garden. Right in the first round, he caught Ali with a left hook and went down. Apart from this scare him but Ali dominated and defeated him early in round four.

Banks was out of this moderate success not capitalize, as he was beaten in the next battle by an opponent with 17 KO defeats. In 1963, he suffered his fifth loss, 1964, he went against Cleveland Williams KO, 1965 against Leotis Martin. In this fight he suffered brain injuries, where he died at the age of only 24 years.