Sonny Banks
Sonny Banks | |
---|---|
Born | June 29, 1940 Birmingham, Mississippi, US |
Died | May 13, 1965 | (aged 24)
Statistics | |
Stance | Orthodox |
Boxing record | |
Total fights | 25 |
Wins | 18 |
Wins by KO | 14 |
Losses | 7 |
Lucien "Sonny" Banks (June 29, 1940 – May 13, 1965) was a mid-20th Century American boxer who is primarily remembered for being the first boxer to ever knock down Cassius Clay (later "Muhammad Ali") in a professional match. In the early 1960s Banks was regarded in the sport as rising prospect known for a lightning fast left hook, but his career was cut short when he died from injuries sustained in the ring in 1965.
Early life
[edit]Banks was from Lee County in north east Mississippi. He was born in the farming community at Birmingham Ridge, about halfway between Tupelo and Saltillo.[1]
Boxing career
[edit]He fought Clay on 10 February 1962 in New York, and knocked him down for a count, although he went on to lose the match.[2]
Death
[edit]Banks died on 13 May 1965 at the age of 24 from a head injury sustained three days earlier in a 9-round bout against Leotis Martin.
Professional boxing record
[edit]18 Wins (14 knockouts, 4 decisions), 7 Losses (5 knockouts, 2 decisions)[3] | |||||||
Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
Loss | 18–7 | ![]() |
KO | 9 | 1965-05-10 | ![]() |
Banks died three days later from injuries sustained during the fight. |
Loss | 18–6 | ![]() |
KO | 6 | 1964-07-21 | ![]() |
|
Win | 18–5 | ![]() |
KO | 1 | 1964-05-18 | ![]() |
|
Win | 17–5 | ![]() |
KO | 2 | 1964-03-16 | ![]() |
Batts knocked out at 1:08 of the second round. |
Loss | 16–5 | ![]() |
SD | 10 | 1963-11-29 | ![]() |
|
Win | 16–4 | ![]() |
SD | 10 | 1963-10-18 | ![]() |
|
Win | 15–4 | ![]() |
UD | 8 | 1963-07-06 | ![]() |
|
Win | 14–4 | ![]() |
SD | 10 | 1963-06-05 | ![]() |
|
Win | 13–4 | ![]() |
TKO | 6 | 1963-03-15 | ![]() |
Referee stopped the bout at 0:40 of the sixth round. |
Win | 12–4 | ![]() |
KO | 1 | 1963-02-09 | ![]() |
|
Win | 11–4 | ![]() |
KO | 3 | 1962-07-28 | ![]() |
Jackson knocked out at 2:02 of the third round. |
Loss | 10–4 | ![]() |
KO | 5 | 1962-05-26 | ![]() |
|
Loss | 10–3 | ![]() |
TKO | 4 | 1962-02-10 | ![]() |
Referee stopped the bout at 0:26 of the fourth round. |
Win | 10–2 | ![]() |
KO | 2 | 1962-01-27 | ![]() |
|
Win | 9–2 | ![]() |
KO | 2 | 1961-10-16 | ![]() |
|
Win | 8–2 | ![]() |
TKO | 5 | 1961-08-07 | ![]() |
Michigan Heavyweight Title. |
Win | 7–2 | ![]() |
KO | 2 | 1961-06-06 | ![]() |
|
Win | 6–2 | ![]() |
KO | 1 | 1961-04-25 | ![]() |
|
Loss | 5–2 | ![]() |
PTS | 5 | 1961-02-06 | ![]() |
|
Loss | 5–1 | ![]() |
KO | 3 | 1960-10-11 | ![]() |
|
Win | 5–0 | ![]() |
KO | 1 | 1960-09-23 | ![]() |
|
Win | 4–0 | ![]() |
KO | 4 | 1960-08-31 | ![]() |
|
Win | 3–0 | ![]() |
KO | 1 | 1960-08-18 | ![]() |
|
Win | 2–0 | ![]() |
KO | 1 | 1960-07-12 | ![]() |
|
Win | 1–0 | ![]() |
PTS | 4 | 1960-05-19 | ![]() |
References
[edit]- ^ Source: Rick Cleveland column.
- ^ "Poet and Pedagogue," A.J. Liebling, New Yorker (Feb 1962). https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1962/03/03/poet-and-pedagogue
- ^ Boxing record for Sonny Banks. BoxRec.com.
External links
[edit]- Boxing record for Sonny Banks from BoxRec (registration required)
- West Side Boxing News: "15 Round: The True Championship Distance"