'Six Gun' Sonny Banks

Lucien 'Six-Gun' Sonny Banks

The 'hard left-hooking' Detroit Heavyweight.

Boxed in the early 1960's, the day of the 190 lb. Heavyweights.

He would have been one hell of a 'Cruiserweight'

At 6' 2", 190 lb. - Was a fast-handed boxer, with a 'lightning-quick' hard left hook.

Was an excellent Detroit Amateur, with several Tournament Titles to his name.

Turned professional on May 19, 1960 (one month shy of age 20) with 'very high' expectations.

Trainer/Manager, Johnny Summerlin (of Detroit) got 'Six-Gun Sonny' on the Monday/Tuesday Night Fight
card bouts at the Graystone Ballroom in Detroit.

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'Six Gun' Sonny Banks

Got on a quick roll, and won his first '6' bouts, going 6-0-0 (5 KO's).

But, on October 11, 1960 - Sonny walked into a right hand from 'Shotgun' Joey Shelton,
a 3-1-1 (1 KO) Cleveland Heavyweight, and was 'knocked out' (L KO3).

(Joey Sheldon would go on to be a sparring partner for Cassius Clay from 1964 thru 1967).

A follow-up bout versus Chuch Garrett 9-6-0, on February 6, 1961 at the Marigold Gardens in Chicago
- resulted in another loss, as 'Six Gun' dropped a 6-Round Decision. 'Six Gun' fell to 6-2-0.
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But from April 26, 1961 thru August 1961, 'Six Gun' got on the Graystone Ballroom
'monthly fight bandwagon' and turned it around, by winning '7' straight bouts, (6 by knockout),
improving to 13-2-0 (11 KO's).

Included were impressive wins, a rematch win (KO 2) over 'Shotgun' Joey Sheldon, and an
August 7, 1961 (TKO 5) over 217 lb. 'Big Willie' Coleman, for the Michigan State Heavyweight Championship.
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In his next fight, a Detroit 'Main Event' on October 16, 1961 - 'Six Gun' Sonny Banks 'destroyed'
Tunney Hunsaker 16-13-1, by (TKO 2), after pounding him to the canvas '3-times' in a one-sided bout.

Hunsaker, a West Virginia 'journeyman heavyweight' had previously gone the distance with
'heavyweight prospects', Cassius Clay, Ernie Terrell and Tod Herring.

Now at 14-2-0 (12 KO's), 'Six Gun' was in-line for a Television bout, with possibly Chicago
Heavyweight Ernie Terrell.

 

Detroit Free Press (Newspaper Achives)

Here's one,

December 13, 1961

'Six Gun' flattens 'Big Boy' in '5' in the Graystone Ballroom, and then
again out in the parking lot.

21 year-old local Heavyweight 'Six Gun' Sonny Banks stopped Chuck 'Big Boy'
Garrett of Chicago in the 5th round last night, in a wild affair. Both boys were
hurt several times, but Sonny overtook Garrett in the 4th Round with some hard left hooks,
that left the Chicago Heavyweight on stiff legs.

'Six Gun' popped in the finisher in the 5th, rattling off 'gun-fire' like left hands that felled Garrett twice,
the second time for the count.

It was Sonny Banks 15th win, and 13th by knockout, against 2 losses.

Chuck Garrett who had defeated 'Six Gun' by Decision in February of this year at
the Marigold Gardens in Chicago, falls to 12-8-2.

But the boys did not let it end there, as after the fight, in the parking lot,
both went at it again in front of 100 friends. After 5-minutes of wailing on each other,
locals jumped in to stop the street battle.

Later, Chuck Garrett had claimed that Sonny had hit him low during the
'sanctioned bout inside'. Sonny had replied that, 'Chuck has always been
a Chicago liar and a sore-loser.'

 

January 27, 1962

'Six Gun' Sonny Banks

Had a 'coming out party' on Saturday - January 27, 1962 at the Graystone Ballroom.
A local television bout.

The 21 1/2 year-old was supposed to fight Chicago Heavyweight Ernie Terrell, but
that was changed.

Instead, Sonny got a last-minute substitute, New Jersey Light-Heavyweight
'Showboat' Clay Thomas 19-3-2 (7 KO's), a pretty good 180 lb. boxer-puncher with
an entertaining 'showboating style'.

With a few visiting observers in attendance, 'Six Gun' blasted Clay Thomas to the
canvas a few times with his left hook, enroute to an 'impressive' TKO 2.

With the victory, 'Six Gun' Sonny Banks 16-2-0 (14 KO's) gets an invite to New York
to take on a certain Heavyweight Hot Shot named Cassius Clay, at Madison Square Garden
in just 14-days on February 10, 1962.

 

Here We Go

"See Heavyweight Fistic Dynamite Explode'

As you can see, Sonny Banks listed record is incorrect, as they have him at 10-2-0 (9 KO's),
when he was in fact 16-2-0 (14 KO's).

Lucien Banks went by the moniker of;
'Sonny', 'Six Gun', 'KO' and 'Detroits New Young Joe Louis'

Cassius Clay...10-0-0 (7 KO's)....#9 Heavyweight....{Age 20........Height 6' 3"....Weight 194 1/2 lbs.}
vs.
Sonny Banks..16-2-0 (14 KO's)....Not Ranked..........{Age 21 1/2...Height 6' 2"...Weight 191 1/4 lbs.}

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'Six Gun' Sonny Banks, primarily a Detroit 'club-fighter', with a very good left hook.

His defense was a 'bit shaky' to say the least, as he had a bad habit of taking the
full force of a punch, and staying stationary. Sonny never learned to 'slip-and-slide',
or roll with the punches.

One thing Sonny did have, was 'one-punch knockout power', especially in his left hand.

Though he was a 'professional boxer', his primary job was as that of an assembly line
worker at the Ford Motor Company Plant in Detroit.

He was Managed by Ted Ewald, and Trained by Johnny Summerlin.

'Six Gun' Sonny Banks makes a 'deposit' on the chin of Mr. Clay at Madison Square Garden.

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'Six Gun', after getting backed up into a neuatral corner from the 'fast fists' of Cassius Clay in
the opening round, Sonny Banks unloads a perfectly timed counter left hook, which lands on the chin of
the Young Mr. Cassius Clay, who is dropped.

Cassius, more embarrassed than hurt, bounces up immediately, even befere Referee Ruby Goldstein
can start counting. Both young Heavyweights finish out the round, to the delight of the New York
fans at Madison Square Garden.

Young Cassius, returns the favor in Round 2, by dumping 'Six Gun Sonny' with a flurry, followed by a
left uppercut.

More of Mr. Clay's fast flurries in Round 3 has 'Six Gun' reeling, as he has no answer for the quicker
attack of Cassius. Banks is getting hit by everything, and is completely overwhelmed and near
defenseless.

In the opening moments of Round 4, Cassius throws a quick flurry, followed by a left hook which lands
high on 'Six Guns' forehead. Banks is dazed and starts to slide to his left, where Ruby Goldstein looking in,
stops the bout at 0:26 of the 4th Round.

It was announced, that Cassius Clay 11-0-0 {8 KO's), would then take on Canadian Heavyweight
Robert Cleroux, on March 31, 1962 at Madison Square Garden,

 

Following 'Six Guns' loss to Cassius Clay (L TKO 4), things didn't get any better
3-months later.

On May 26, 1962, at another Graystone Ballroom, Detroit - Saturday Fight Card
'Six Gun' was 'knocked out' in 5-Rounds, by Young Jack Johnson.

Johnson, a one-time Top 15 Heavyweight in the mid-late 1950's, was now a
slow 223 lb. 33 year-old 'journeyman heavyweight'. The 6' 3" 'mid-power' banger
23-17-1 (12 KO's) out-weighed the 190 lb. 'Six Gun' by 33 lbs.

Every time the lumbering Johnson landed a punch, Sonny would freeze, and move
off on unsteady pins. It was obvious, that 'Six Gun' could not take a hard punch,
and especially from a much bigger opponent.

In Round 5, after taking a lathering in Rounds 3 and 4, 'Six Gun' was flattened by a
left hook, and remained on the canvas for 5-minutes.

The loss dropped 'Six Gun' to 16-4-0, and more-or-less removed him from
'Heavyweight Prospect' status.
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But, 'Six Gun', now 22, bounced back with '3' straight 'knockout' wins at The Graystone Ballroom over
'three cannon-fodders' to get back on the winning track, and improve his record to 19-4-0 (17 KO's).

On June 5, 1963 - 'Six Gun' won another bout at The Grayston Ballroom (W Split-Dec 10) over
'New York' Freddie Mack 19-14-2 (8 KO's), but 'Six Gun' was far from impressive, as the 199 lb. Banks
struggled with the 175 lb. 28 year-old 'journeyman Light-Heavyweight'.

Not only was the hard left-hooker unable to drop or hurt the New York Light-Heavyweight, it
was the 175 lb. Freddie Mack who appeared the harder puncher, as he backed Sonny up numerous times
with right hands.

 

Six Gun, definietly a 'Cool Gunslinger'

Saturday Night - July 6, 1963

Madison Square Garden

The 23 year-old Sonny Banks 20-4-0 (17 KO's) is brought back to Madison Square Garden
to face 'Chicago Heavyweight Prospect' the undefeated Jimmy Jones 10-0-0 (10 KO's).

The 'hard-hitting' Jimmy Jones, at 6' 3" and 205 lbs., was the 1959 National Golden Gloves
Heavyweight Champion, one year before Cassius Clay won that honor.

The 6' 2" and 197 lb. Sonny Banks is supposed to be a 'test' for the Chicago Heavyweight
in a schedeuled 10-Rounder.

Before the bout begins, the Televsion Fight producers cut this bout to 8-Rounds, so they
can get the 'Main Event' to start on time.

For 'Six Gun' it works out to his best advantage as he comes out fast and surprises the
big-hitting but slow-footed Jimmy Jones with quick left hooks, and good footwork, enroute
to 'upsetting' the 'undefeated' Chicagoan by a Unanimous 8-Round Decision.

'Six Gun' Sonny Banks

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October 18, 1963

Cobo Arena - Detroit, Michigan

Detroit Heavyweight, 'Six Gun' Sonny Banks won his '6th-Straight' bout, by winning
a hard-fought 10-Round 'Split-Decision' over Philadelphia's Dave Bailey.

'Six Gun', noted for his thunderous left hook, rocked the 'tough' Philly Heavyweight
with his his famed punch in Round 1.

But the 6' 1" 198 lb. Bailey was able to withstand the blows, and came back with his own
hard right hook in Round 2, flooring 'Six Gun'.

The Detroit-Banger came back in Rounds 3 thru 6, and built up a lead on the scorecards.

But, the tough Philly-Heavyweight made a late-round charge, and kept Banks backed to
the ropes, while he scored with his hard right hands in Rounds 8, 9 and 10.

Afterwards, Dave Bailey complained that it was a 'hometown decision'.

Both fighters received $1200 for their ring performance.

The 23 year-old 'Six Gun' now improves to 22-4-0, and would like nothing better
than a rematch with Cassius Clay, the fellow that he floored last year.

 

November 29, 1963

Battle Creek, Michigan

'Sonny Banks Upset, Rematch With Cassius Clay On Hold'

'Six Gun' Sonny Banks, lost a 10-Round 'Split-Decision to 'undefeated'
Philadelphia Heavyweight, 'The Mammoth' Lee Batts.

The 6' 2" 198 lb. Sonny, who had won '6' straight bouts, was out-muscled by
the 'mammoth sized' 6' 4" 238 lb. - Lee Batts thoughout the middle rounds
of the 10-Round bout.

'Six Gun' who could not hurt the bigger man, had to switch to a box and move
style, after getting battered in Rounds 3, 4 and 5.

Sonny was in 'big' trouble in Round 5, as Lee Batts staggered him several times
with clubbing right hands to the 'head'.

'Six Gun' was able to come back in the last '3' rounds, as the bigger man started
to get tired, and Sonny outsped the 'lumbering' Batts.

Referee - Tom Briscoe

Scorecards
Referee.........96-95 (Sonny Banks)
Judge...........96-94 (Lee Batts)
Judge...........96-94 (Lee Batts)

The 23 year-old Detroit Heavyweight falls to 22-5-0.

Lee Batts, the 24 year-old 'prospect' from Philadelphia improves to 15-0-0, and with (12 KO's).

 

Monday Night - March 16, 1964

The Arena - Philadelphia

'Sonny Banks, KO's Future Star Heavyweight'

Detroit Heavyweight, 'Six Gun' Sonny Banks reversed a Split-Decision Loss to
'undefeated' and future heavyweight star Lee Batts, by scoring a 'shocking'
one-punch knockout in Round 2.

The 24 year-old 6' 4" 240 lb. 'Mammoth' Lee Batts, who had entered the ring
with a record of 15-0-0, and who had defeated 'Six Gun' in Michigan in November 1963,
now leaves at 15-1-0.

'Sonny', at 199 lbs. who has a tremendous left hook, changed up and landed a solid staight
right hand early in Round 2, that dropped the bigger man to the canvas, and to be
counted out at 1:24 of the 2nd Round.

The Arena fans sat with their mouths wide open, as their future Heavyweight Star
was laid out flat on the canvas.

The 23 year-old Detroit Heavyweight improved to 23-5-0 (18 KO's), still hopes for
a rematch with 'new' Heavyweight Champion - Cassius Clay, a man he floored 'two'
years ago.