Orville Qualls 'Part of the 1968 Cassius Clay Road Show'

Orville Qualls,

The 6' 6" 240 lb. Heavyweight 'Baby Boy' from Omaha, Nebraska.

A local farm boy, who had potential, and the 22 year-old impressed by winning the
1966 Midwest Golden Gloves Championship.

By early-1967, the 23 year-old - Orville had posted a record of 9-1-1 (6 KO's), and
soon became a 'Team Member' in the 1967 Exhibitions, and by 1968 was a leading
cast member in the '1968 Road Show'.

Performing exhibitions with the former Champion - Cassius Clay in all of the
upper Midwest boxing hot-beds,

* Milwaukee, Wisconsisn
* St. Paul, Minnesota
* Fargo, South Dakota
* Alberta, Canada

This content is protected

 

In 1968

The Tall Freaks were part of Cassius Clay's stable of sparring partners.

Orviille 'Big Boy' Qualls, was also called 'Lee Mandingo'.

James J. Beattie was 'Big Jim'.

Alvin 'Blue' Lewis from Detroit was also part of the 'Midwest Freak Show'.

Other Tall Freaks,

Mel Turnbow, also known as 'Elbow Joe'.

 

Thursday Night - June 15, 1967

Cobo Arena - Detroit, Michigan

Only 3523 fans showed up at Cobo Arena (capacity; 12,000) to see Muhammad Ali
box 3-Rounds with Alvin 'Blue' Lewis, and unknown Heavyweight Orville 'Baby Boy' Qualls.

The promoters were forced to use the name Cassius Clay on the promotional cards,
as the Michigan State Boxing Commission forbid the use of any Black Muslin name.

Commissioner Chuck Davey, said that there were protests of calling the Champion
by his new found Black Muslim name. But, the Heavyweight Champion was granted
a license to box the exhibition, under his given name Cassius Clay.

A relatively quiet audience watched the Champion box 3-Rounds with Detroit Heavyweight
Alvin 'Blue' Lewis who boxed evenly with Cassius.

But, the 6' 6" Orville Qualls, an unknown in these parts, caused quite a stir
when he floored the Champion with a tremendous left hook at the end of the
2nd-Round.

The sparse Cobo Arena spectators erupted with a roar, as Cassius flopped to the
canvas.

The Champion claimed he got accidentally thumbed in the eye before the knockdown,
and time was called for 10-minutes for the Champion to clear the 'cob-webs' out of his
head.

Both Cassius and Orville resumed boxing for a 3rd-Round, as each fighter appeared
to be overly cautious.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Jet Magazine reported that the attendance was 7000, and nearly $10,000 in gate receipts.

But, accurate accounts by the Associated Press stated there were only 3523 in attendance,
with gate receipts at approximately $5000.

The Promotion/Exhibition was sponsored by the E & J Sports Club, who had earlier been promised
to promote a Heavyweight Championship bout with Cassius Clay.

 

After the 'flop' exhibition.

Muhammad Ali put in several calls to his former Manager, William Faversham Jr. to help
on further promotions.

William Faversham Jr. would not accept Muhammad Ali's calls.