Don Warner, The Philadelphia 'Knockout Specialist' Claimed, he had Cassius Clay's number, as he had sparred with him several times, and knew the trick to get to Clay. 'You can't match his speed, but you can beat him to the punch with a little trick I figured out while sparring with him. I can't say it now, but after our fight, everyone will be coming to my dressing room to congratulate me.' Don Warner, a North Philly Heavyweight. A 6' 0" - 190 lb. self proclaimed 'Knockout Specialist'. Entering his bout with the 11-0-0 {8 KO's} Cassius Clay at Convention Hall in Miami Beach - Don Warner brought with him a record of 17-6-2 (16 KO's). Coming into this bout, Mr. Warner had 'skidded' off the road, by losing '5' of his last '6' bouts, including '3' knockout losses. The one-time January 1959 Prospect of the Month by Ring Magazine, had 'not' fulfilled his promise. This content is protected
The Fight Don Warner rushed out from his corner, and tried to surprise young Cassius with a quick attack. It worked well for the first minute, but the more 'polished' Cassius was able to get off some quick punches himself, in a very entertaining 1st-Round. In Round 2, Cassius boxed smartly, as the 'wild swinging' Philly Heavyweight tried to unload his right hand bombs. All missed the mark, as Cassius was able to fend the punches off, and counter well with snappy one-two's. In Round 3, Don was able to get a little bit closer with his right hands, as Cassius was now dropping his left hand, inviting his chin as a target. Midway through the round, Warner landed a grazing right to Cassius' chin, and the Kentuckian wobbled. Wasting not a precious second, Warner moved in and tossed several right hands on his 'frozen' opponent, but all missed the hanging chin. Cassius was able to regroup, and fired off a quick-volley to back Warner off. With moments left in the 3rd-Round, Don landed a hard jolting right hand to the chin of Cassius, which drove Clay backwards into the ropes. As Don Warner moved in to throw the 'finisher', the bell rang ending Round 3.
As the bell rang starting Round 4, Don Warner bolted from his corner, in an attempt to get at, what he thought, was a still stunned Cassius Clay. But what Don ran into, was a straight right-hand from Cassius, that landed right on the point of his chin, which toppled him sideways into the ropes. Referee - Cy Gottried gave the 'mandatory' 8-Count to a now completely dazed Don Warner. The Referee let it go on momentarily as Cassius unleashed a quick-fisted flurry, before the Referee called a halt to the bout at 0:34 of Round 4, with Don Warner on his feet, but in La-La Land. This content is protected
I've a feeling Cassius's gloves were loaded or Don was drugged between rounds 3-4, when Clay was at his mercy. I've no proof but I'm certain Pepe has and all shenanigans will be revealed in time.
Warner was hit by a poison mini-dart from a blow gun from Clay's corner between rds 3 and 4. Bundini furnished the wind for the gun while Dundee aimed it.
Sounds very logical. I was also wondering whether the personal succubus that Clay/Ali employed played a part in this. We all remember how effective the hex's she placed on George Foreman and Chuck Wepner were :-(
Don 'KO' Warner His problem, though he could punch, he couldn't take a punch. And, he led with his chin. He looked 'so good' after defeating 'Chubby' Norris in October 1958.
Actually, The fight was billed as 'Watch Out Cassius, A Knockout Specialist Is On His Way' Don Warner, can't get a fight in Philadelphia, because everyone is afraid of his 'jolting right hand'. So he has had to leave Philadelphia, and came down to Miami to perform a little oral surgery. You see, the talkative Clay has complained of an aching tooth, and Dr. Knockout is here to remove it. Dr. Knockout was asked if he needed any knockout medicine, and he replied, 'No, I have my right hand'. This content is protected
Good to read about Clay's pre-Liston fights. Everyone knows the Doug Jones and Henry Cooper fight stories, but there were other early fights when his opponents were not scared of him and came to fight. All the while Liston just basically was getting older and older fighting 6 rounds in 3 years.
True, I do think that Ali's prospect fights were against pretty good opposition for being a 20 year old kid with umpteen bouts.
The North Philly Heavyweight, Don Warner was a pretty good 'club-fighter' that had promise. He managed to get his record to 15-1-1 (14 KO's), and looked to be making a move. But, leading with his chin was Don's downfall against better opposition, and he was no longer a hot commodity. Entering the bout with Cassius, the 22 1/2 North Philly Heavyweight was riding a 2-5-1 record in his pevious '8-bouts, with '3' knockout losses. At this point in his career, Don Warner was a 'young trial-horse'.
