Sonny Banks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Sonny Banks |
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|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Born | June 29, 1940 Birmingham, Mississippi, US |
| Died | May 13, 1965 (aged 24) |
| 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
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.
Boxing career
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.
Death
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.
Professional boxing record
| 18 Wins (14 knockouts, 4 decisions), 7 Losses (5 knockouts, 2 decisions) | |||||||
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 18–7 |  Leotis Martin |
KO | 9 | 1965-05-10 | Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Banks died three days later from injuries sustained during the fight. |
| Loss | 18–6 | Cleveland Williams |
KO | 6 | 1964-07-21 | Houston, Texas |
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| Win | 18–5 | Don Warner |
KO | 1 | 1964-05-18 | Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
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| Win | 17–5 | Lee Batts |
KO | 2 | 1964-03-16 | Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Batts knocked out at 1:08 of the second round. |
| Loss | 16–5 | Lee Batts |
SD | 10 | 1963-11-29 | Battle Creek, Michigan |
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| Win | 16–4 | David E. Bailey |
SD | 10 | 1963-10-18 | Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan |
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| Win | 15–4 | Jim Jones |
UD | 8 | 1963-07-06 | Madison Square Garden, New York City |
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| Win | 14–4 | Freddie Mack |
SD | 10 | 1963-06-05 | Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan |
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| Win | 13–4 | Leroy Roker |
TKO | 6 | 1963-03-15 | Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan |
Referee stopped the bout at 0:40 of the sixth round. |
| Win | 12–4 | Lou Bailey |
KO | 1 | 1963-02-09 | Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan |
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| Win | 11–4 | Gene Jackson |
KO | 3 | 1962-07-28 | Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan |
Jackson knocked out at 2:02 of the third round. |
| Loss | 10–4 | Young Jack Johnson |
KO | 5 | 1962-05-26 | Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan |
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| Loss | 10–3 | Cassius Clay |
TKO | 4 | 1962-02-10 | Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York |
Referee stopped the bout at 0:26 of the fourth round. |
| Win | 10–2 | Clay Thomas |
KO | 2 | 1962-01-27 | Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan |
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| Win | 9–2 | Tunney Hunsaker |
KO | 2 | 1961-10-16 | Detroit, Michigan |
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| Win | 8–2 | Willie Coleman |
TKO | 5 | 1961-08-07 | Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan |
Michigan Heavyweight Title. |
| Win | 7–2 | Joe Shelton |
KO | 2 | 1961-06-06 | Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan |
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| Win | 6–2 | Herman Wilson |
KO | 1 | 1961-04-25 | Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan |
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| Loss | 5–2 | Chuck Garrett |
PTS | 5 | 1961-02-06 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois |
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| Loss | 5–1 | Joe Shelton |
KO | 3 | 1960-10-11 | Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan |
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| Win | 5–0 | Rufus Handsome |
KO | 1 | 1960-09-23 | Detroit Olympia, Detroit, Michigan |
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| Win | 4–0 | Chico Gardner |
KO | 4 | 1960-08-31 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois |
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| Win | 3–0 | Ted Davis |
KO | 1 | 1960-08-18 | Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan |
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| Win | 2–0 | Lloyd Washington |
KO | 1 | 1960-07-12 |  Peace Bridge Arena, Fort Erie, Ontario |
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| Win | 1–0 | Ernie Berthet, Jr. |
PTS | 4 | 1960-05-19 | Detroit, Michigan |
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