Sonny Banks boxer

Sonny Banks boxer
bouts
25
won
18
lost
7
draw
0
Status
inactive
Division
heavyweight
Debut
1960-05-19
Height
6′ 2″/188cm
Reach
-
Age
24
Born
1940-06-29
Death
1965-05-13
Nationality
USA

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.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.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.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. His body was buried at Westlawn Cemetery in Wayne, Michigan.

Date Opponent Last Opponents' Results Place Result
1965-05-10 Leotis Martin LWWWWW Arena, Philadelphia LOST
KO
1964-07-21 Cleveland Williams WWLWWW Houston LOST
Technical knockout
1964-05-18 Don Warner WDLLLL Arena, Philadelphia WIN
KO
1964-03-16 Lee Batts WWWWWW Arena, Philadelphia WIN
KO
1963-11-29 Lee Batts WWWWWW Central High Field House, Battle Creek LOST
Split-decision
1963-10-18 Dave Bailey LWWWLD Cobo Arena, Detroit WIN
Split-decision
1963-07-06 Jim Jones WWWWWW Madison Square Garden, New York WIN
Unanimous decision
1963-06-05 Freddie Mack LWWD Graystone Ballroom, Detroit WIN
Split-decision
1963-03-15 Leroy Roker WWLWWL Graystone Ballroom, Detroit WIN
Technical knockout
1963-02-09 Lou Bailey WLWWLL Graystone Ballroom, Detroit WIN
KO
1962-07-28 Gene Jackson WWWLWW Graystone Ballroom, Detroit WIN
KO
1962-05-26 Young Jack Johnson LWLLWL State Fair Coliseum, Detroit LOST
KO
1962-02-10 Muhammad Ali WWWWWW Madison Square Garden, New York LOST
Technical knockout
1962-01-27 Clay Thomas LWDLWW Graystone Ballroom, Detroit WIN
Technical knockout
1961-10-16 Tunney Hunsaker LLLLWL Graystone Ballroom, Detroit WIN
KO
1961-08-07 Willie Coleman WLWLWL Graystone Ballroom, Detroit WIN
Technical knockout
1961-06-06 Joe Shelton LDWWLL Graystone Ballroom, Detroit WIN
KO
1961-04-25 Herman Wilson debut Graystone Ballroom, Detroit WIN
KO
1961-02-06 Chuck Garrett LWLWLL Marigold Gardens, Chicago LOST
Points
1960-10-11 Joe Shelton LLDW Graystone Ballroom, Detroit LOST
KO
1960-09-23 Rufus Handsome LWW Olympia Stadium, Detroit WIN
KO
1960-08-31 Chico Gardner debut Chicago Stadium, Chicago WIN
Technical knockout
1960-08-18 Ted Davis LLLW Graystone Ballroom, Detroit WIN
KO
1960-07-12 Lloyd Washington debut Fort Erie Arena, Fort Erie WIN
KO
1960-05-19 Ernie Berthet Jr WDL Graystone Ballroom, Detroit WIN
Unanimous decision