The 21 year-old 'upstart' Heavyweight with a record of 16-0-0 {13 KO's} was starting
to fill out his 6' 3" lean body, and was now a solid 205 lb. Heavyweight.
'Young Cassius' would be facing his first opponent who had not only had real size,
but one who had legitimate punching-power.
His opponent, 'Mr. Versatility', and former NFL Football Player - Charlie Powell
brought in a record of 23-6-3 {15 KO's}, which on paper looked very respectable.
The 30 year-old Heavyweight was a well-muscled 6' 3" 214 lb. banger, who was
big and strong, and could deliver power-punches if he had the time to wind-up, and
the prper measured distance to unload the punch.
But the 'draw-back', was that Charlie was 'slow and ponderous' and was not the most
skilled Heavyweight in the 'defensive department' of boxing.
Before his bout at the Civic Arena in Pittsburg, the Boxing Pundits called this bout
a 'set-up' and 'a theatrical event for comic relief', as "Young Cassius" would to be too
fast for the 'slow-footed' Football Player
Is this a question or general fact?
BTW how much money Comic Relief make that night from the fight. This is really interesting that Clay actually fought for Comic Relief.
If you stood still and didn't move, Charlie had the power in his right-hand to
drive you across to the other side of the Football Field.
But, with Boxing Gloves on, the San Diego-based Mr. Powell was not as vicious
in the Ring as he was on the Grid Iron.
Despite the size and power, Charlie had labored in his last bout 3-Months earlier
on November 1, 1962 - when he was out-of-shape {225 lbs.} and struggled
at The Olympic in Los Angeles and was awarded a 'Gift' 10-Round Decision over
one Dave Furch, strictly an 'opponent-type' Arizona Heavyweight with a record
of 8-8-3 {4 KO's}.
Charlie had looked so bad in that bout, that the local press said it was time for
Charlie to forget about Boxing and get back into Football, where he would have
an easier go at it.
Il Duce wrote:
The 30 year-old Heavyweight was a well-muscled 6' 3" 220 lb. banger, who was
big and strong, and could deliver power-punches if he had the time to wind-up, and
the proper measured distance to unload the punch.
But the 'draw-back', was that Charlie was 'slow and ponderous'
r
This is simply not true. I have several Powell fights on film; the guy had very good handspeed to go along with his punching power, and for a late starter (especially for that era) he had respectable offensive skills. His biggest flaw was a porous defense and a glass chin, not being slow.
He was also likely one of the top 10 athletes of the 20th century.
