The strange case of Ali and the Boxing News

[TheGoods]

I'm sure Clay became Ali in 1964 but in a Boxing News front page headline from November 1970 they shout 'WATCH OUT CLAY' in reference to Joe Frazier's ascent up the heavyweight rankings. Anyone know why?

[Gazmac81]

was it maybe a quote from Frazier?


or i could go with the current trend in life and call them Racist Haterzzzzzzz

I'm sure Clay became Ali in 1964 but in a Boxing News front page headline from November 1970 they shout 'WATCH OUT CLAY' in reference to Joe Frazier's ascent up the heavyweight rankings. Anyone know why?

[Final round]

Yep some areas of the press still referred to Ali as Clay for a while (Reg Gutteridge for one) after the name change.Maybe they thought it would intially confuse the fans.

[Emmseegee]

Theres a video interview on the ipad version in which they state that boxing news was still refusing to call him Ali at this point.

[johnreilly]

Joe Frazier refers to Ali as "Clay" throughout his autobiography, or "The Butterfly". Not sure why he chose not to regognise Ali's name change.

[MightyWarrior]

Joe Frazier refers to Ali as "Clay" throughout his autobiography, or "The Butterfly". Not sure why he chose not to regognise Ali's name change.

Joe had a lot of animosity to Ali, and called him Clay to wind him up. As did Patterson and Ernie Terrell, who were made to pay by Ali as he punched and asked "what's my name" ?

A lot of the "establishment" ( ie middle aged white guys, like Gutterridge and the boxing news crew ) were anti black muslim so had strong views about refusing to use his name Ali. They look small minded for it now.

[Old bones Ian]

Not sure you have to change your name legally for it to be ok to use.
I think you can just call yourself anything you like, its only a problem getting stuff like a bank account

[veriton]

A lot of the "establishment" ( ie middle aged white guys, like Gutterridge and the boxing news crew ) were anti black muslim so had strong views about refusing to use his name Ali. They look small minded for it now.

are you Anthony small?

[banjo]

Joe Frazier refers to Ali as "Clay" throughout his autobiography, or "The Butterfly". Not sure why he chose not to regognise Ali's name change.

Joe had a lot of animosity to Ali, and called him Clay to wind him up. As did Patterson and Ernie Terrell, who were made to pay by Ali as he punched and asked "what's my name" ?

A lot of the "establishment" ( ie middle aged white guys, like Gutterridge and the boxing news crew ) were anti black muslim so had strong views about refusing to use his name Ali. They look small minded for it now.

Because the Islam which Ali was part of at the time was the "Nation of Islam" who were black supremacists.