April 1, 1973 Following his 'upset loss' to Ken Norton last night in San Diego, reports were floated around that the former Heavyweight Champion - Muhammad Ali was going to change his name back to Cassius Clay. The former Champion said that Muhammad Ali has now lost 'two times', and that he is going back to his proper birth name of Cassius Clay, who is still 'undefeated' and remains the Heavyweight Champion of the World. The previously named 'Muhammad Ali' said through a spokesman, that Cassius Clay is 'alive and kicking', and will make his return to the ring in several months.
April 1973 Muhammad Ali - 'Cassius Clay never lost, and my mind was 'over-taken' by an outside being. When I got into the ring with Ken Norton, I didn't know who I was. My cornermen were calling me Muhammad, but their commands didn't register in my mind.' 'They kept asking me, what's the matter Muhammad. And I didn't know who they were talking to. I looked at them, and said Who's Muhammad.'
April 1, 1973 Muhammad Ali, 'I looked in the mirror, and I didn't know who I was. Who is this guy Muhammad Ali, and what does he want with me.' 'Then I got in the ring with this Marine, and he's calling me Clay. And I said to him, here I am. I must have woke up in there.' This content is protected
Ali or Clay, either way history would not have change imo. He was still great regardless of who he or we called him. I did have a chuckle of some of the later post of Ali forgetting who he was lol. Rocky Marciano could have stayed with the name Rocky Mack, go 49-0, retire as unbeating heavyweight champion, and would the name Mack which is of couse a less cooler name than Marciano lol, would effect how we rank him?
I believe it was Young and Rubicam (Marketing Managers in New York) who when asked by Muhammad Ali, 'Why won't anyone use me or my name to endorse products.' 'Their response, 'They hate your name'.
It's all utter bull****, but I do admit I find it amusing. The only problem of course is that I don't believe anything the guy says anymore.