When Muhammad Ali fought Corky Baker

"The first time I saw Corky Baker he was holding one of the football players from my school team upside down, shacking all the money from his pockets. Corky short, stocky and bowlegged; had big muscles and a mean stare; and was older than me. Corky beat up everybody and terrorized the whole neighbourhood, including me. He was as mean as he was strong, and had a reputation for knocking out grown men. Corky made money betting on how high he could lift the ends of automobiles.

I always walked around Mr Martin’s gym confident and proud, except when I heard Corky was on the streets.

Like Everybody else, I had to find another way around Corky’s block, unless I wanted to pay the toll he charged for the privilege of walking past him. Corky was the undisputed “King of the streets” In almost every run in I had with him, I lost. It was really starting to shake me up. Even with all my training and boxing skills, I knew I would never go far in boxing unless I stopped dodging Corky Baker. He held the crown that would make me feel most confident as a fighter. I thought if I could whup Corky, I could whup the whole world.

I started talking about how I would whup corky if I got him in the ring. When Corky found out was I was going around saying, he came looking for me. He said when he got his hands on me, he was going to tear me apart. My friends Ronnie and Willy and some other neighbourhood kids were there when I confronted him. Corky wanted to fight me right then and there.

So I challenged Corky to a boxing match in Columbia gym on “Tomorrow’s champions.” Corky laughed and said that boxing was for sissies, that it was not a real fighting, but when everyone started laughing at him and calling him a coward, Corky quickly changed his mind and accepted.

When the day of the fight arrived I was scared to death, but I had my father and my brother with me. All my friends from the neighbourhood and class mates from central high were there. It was time for the showdown. Corky and I were about to fight for the title that would mean the most to me. Whoever won the fight was “King of the street.” This was not about financial victory, it was about more than just money. I couldn’t see myself as a real champion until I stood up to Corky. Now the moment was here, and as I stood in the corner of the ring. I hoped Corky would not notice my knees were shaking.

When the bell rang for the first round. I came out moving, throwing my jabs, then tried to stay out of his reach.

Corky came out swinging. He was throwing big hard punches, that were not landing. I kept moving, because if Corky hit me, he would have knocked me out, but Corky was quickly becoming tired.

When the bell rang for the second round, Corky came out chasing me, but he could not catch me. I was ducking his punches, and I was faster and smarter than he was.

Before the second round was over he said “This ain’t fair” and ran out of the ring and left the gym. I had won the respect of my peers and the title. I had blackened his eyes and bloodied his nose. More important, I had faced my fears and gained the self confidence and self respect I needed to continue my boxing career."

Muhammad Ali

 

"I was now king of the street. All my friends and kids from my neighbourhood were jumping up and down shouting.

"We're free, we're free, long live the king, we're free!"

That's when I realised I did not just fight Corky for myself; I fought him for the entire neighbourhood, and it was a good feeling, after I beat Corky, he did not pick on anybody anymore.

For a while, I walked around the neighbourhood looking over my shoulder. I thought Corky might come after me, but he didn't, and I was surprised what he said to me when I did see him again. He told me I was a good fighter and I was going to go a long way. Then he shook my hand and walked off.

Over the years Corky and I kind of became friends and he kept up with all my fights. After Ken Norton broke my jaw, I thought about Corky. I called up a old friend, Lawrence Montgomery, who had grown up next door to me back in Louisville. I asked Lawrene were Corky was now, I wanted to hear what he thought of my fight with Norton, but I did not get the chance to talk to Corky. Lawrence told me that Corky was dead. Just a week before I had called, Corky was in a shootout with the police, at a bar on Walnut Street in Louisville. Corky Baker had still been fighting in the street.

I still think of Corky. He reminds me of what can be accomplished if we face our fears.

Soon there was another obstacle I had to confront. This fear almost kept me from achieving an important goal."

Muhammad Ali