World Stage: An Olympic Introduction to the Greatest of All Time
Article is an entry from the Faversham Folios at the Muhammad Ali Center, a collection of articles about Muhammad Ali's boxing career from 1961-1965. William Faversham was a founding member of the Louisville Sponsoring Group, who would manage him until 1966.
The Faversham Folios were donated to the Muhammad Ali Center by Phillip Faversham in 2019.
"Stardom-Bound Clay Chooses His Own Route"
Cassius Clay's first professional fight took place October 29, 1960 against Tunney Hunsaker, less than two months after he won the gold medal in Italy and three days after he signed a management contract with the Louisville Sponsoring Group.
In a few months, Angelo Dundee would become his trainer and remain so for the rest of his career.
In a few years, Clay would beat Sonny Liston for the Heavyweight Championship title, convert to Islam, and change his name to Muhammad Ali.
Clay started shaking up the world at the Olympics in 1960 -- and he would never really stop.
