Cassius Clay versus Floyd Patterson II, Was scheduled for April 25, 1967. Promoted by Al Bolan, the bout was to take place at 'The Convention Center' in Las Vegas. But unbeknownst to the fighters and their camps, the Nevada State Boxing Commission would not sanction the bout, as they rejected Floyd Patterson in his application for a Nevada State boxing license. Tickets were printed and the promotion was started by Al Bolan, without approval from the Nevada State Boxing Commission, and Governer's office. Nevada Governer, Paul Laxalt, stated that he ordered his Boxing Commission to cancel any plans to sanction this bout, and ordered the Commision to 'kick out' everybody involved in this promotion. Paul Laxalt, 'In no way are we allowing Floyd Patterson to compete in any Heavyweight Championship bout here. I've already talked to several other Boxing Commissions, and they all agree with my decision, which took me all of 5-minutes to make.' This content is protected
After 1 pathetic fiasco he caused there was no need 4 another . Responsible caring decisions like this , by d sanctioning organizations would have spared d sport of its ugliness , then & now . Fighters should b criticized 4 taking fights injured more than 4 pulling out of fights due 2 injuries .
Frank, It was another 'end run' by Cassius Clay, to squeeze in another easy defense, and get a nice payday, at the expense of a 'foolish public' and a challenger who was not going to be competitive, let alone have a chance at winning. As a matter of fact, every other Boxing Commission turned down this bout. Cassius Clay then called the State Boxing Commissions, prejudice in preventing this bout. To really bring this to a joke, the Cassius Clay Team tried to squeeze in George Chuvalo again, as a replacement for Floyd.
maybe ali was gonna defend his title every month - feb terrell, march folley, april patterson, may bonavena lol
The plan looked like this for 1967; February........Ernie Terrell March...........Zora Folley April..............Floyd Patterson II May..............Oscar Bonavena July..............Thad Spencer September.....Joe Frazier November......Karl Mildenberger II Once Floyd Patterson was rejected by every Boxing Commission, they tried to squeeze in George Chuvalo for another Canada bout. Thad Spencer and Willie Ketchum pretty much gave up on waiting. Yank Durham said Joe Frazier would fight Cassius, when they were good and ready, not when Cassius wanted to. Of course, the United States had a little meeting with Mr. Clay, as they had other plans. By February 1968, Muhammad Ali was $80,000 in debt.
Hey Senor! You used his name, kudos for that! I'm sure Ali, with all his skills at that time, could have run the table in your proposed warped schedule. I'll be the first to say, and have said it in other threads, that Ali, despite his All time Greatness, played the public for fools in his post-Foreman career. 1967 was an entirely different scenerio. Fighters, usually, can't make their own fights. Did he leave anyone out in his defenses prior to banishment of ANY significance? You have a severe prejudice against Ali that you certainly don't hide. You attempt to demean Floyd Patterson in your blatherings, one of the greatest and most decent prizefighters to EVER step between the ropes in your Spencer/Lincoln/anti-Ali/let's go back and re-write boxing history diatribe. Where are you coming from?
jowcol, Those were the proposed fights by legitimate promoeters, and the Cassius Clay Team. No disrespect to a great person and 2-Time Champion - Floyd Patterson, who I've had the great pleasure of meeting in New Plaltz, New York. But, it was Nevada State Governer, Paul Laxalt who started the ball rolling about preventing Floyd Patterson from getting another heavyweight title fight. He would not issue a fight permit to the promoter Al Bolan. The listed bouts, were all proposed in 'legitimate media press releases'. That is a fact. Cassius Clay became Muhammad Ali on April 18, 1967 (in my opinion).