Zora Folley

Zora Folley ( born May 27, 1932 in Dallas, † July 7, 1972 in Tucson ) was an American heavyweight boxer.

The early pro career

Folley began with the professional boxing in 1953. He was, despite his 43 knockout victories no KO - bat and was not a boxer who had above-average rugged qualities. Because he experienced no careful matchmaking by his management, but he also had to play early in his career against higher -ranked boxer, it appears from today's perspective, as if he would have obtained a so-called " glass chin ", but this is not the case. Folley 's reputation founded on his good boxing techniques, his fairness and a general professional attitude. In 1955 he defeated Johnny Summerlin, who had previously gone in twice with Sonny Liston over the full distance and this very nearly lost the rematch only 2-1 judges votes. Folley, who met at an enemy, which had designed six times after another victorious and was in the form of his life, was beaten in the fight to the ground several times and finally gave up in the sixth round on. A few months later he had against Young Jack Johnson his second defeat suffered, again by task.

Ascent to the " Contender"

The first well-known opponent was defeated in 1956, when he had a points victory over the Cubans Nino Valdes. In 1958, he pushed against the then-undefeated Eddie Read, who had a very similar style to him, undecided. Against the Olympic champion of 1956 Pete Rademacher, who had boxed unsuccessful in his pro debut against Floyd Patterson for the world championship he won in his second pro fight by knockout in the fourth round. Afterwards, however, he lost in England against Henry Cooper on points. In 1960, he defeated making, but was defeated Sonny Liston by KO. The next year he went against the standing in the world rankings Argentina Lavorante KO, but knocked Cooper in England in a rematch from. In 1962 he proposed the original from the light heavyweight coming Doug Jones, the young Cassius Clay in the same year caused great difficulties, on points, but went in a rematch knockout.

In July 1963, he surprisingly lost convincingly on points against the eventual world champion Ernie Terrell. As a result, it then reach point victories against George Chuvalo, Oscar Bonavena, and the subsequent long-term light-heavyweight champion Bob Foster. When fighting in Germany in 1964, he boxed a draw against Karl Mildenberger, against Gerhard Zech he won by KO.

After he did not lose in 1966, he finally got a title shot against the world champion Muhammad Ali. He lost by knockout in the seventh round. It was the last fight of Ali for the next three years.

End of career and death

However, no significant Folley won more battle and ended his career in 1970. He died in 1972 under mysterious circumstances in a motel in Tucson. In the incident, as applicable accident he suffered serious head injuries, which he finally succumbed in hospital.

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