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Few fights have generated more myths than the March 13, 1963 bout at Madison Square Garden between heavyweight contenders Cassius Clay and Doug Jones. To hear some people tell it, Clay was given a gift decision. Jones kept hurting him with rights, they say. Jones was too slippery for Clay to hit. Jones nearly knocked Clay out with a right in the first round. Jones would have had a knockdown if the ropes hadn't kept Clay from spilling to the canvas. On and on it goes.
The facts about the fight are these:
1. Jones stunned Clay with a solid right-hand lead early in the first round. Yes, Clay was near the ropes, but the ropes DID NOT keep him from being knocked down. Clay used some evasive tactics for 30 or 40 seconds, until his head cleared sufficiently, and then he began trading punches with Jones again. By the middle of the round, the impact of Jones's right-hand blow had worn off completely. Clay, in fact, landed a couple of stiff rights himself before the end of the round. [details]
The facts about the fight are these:
1. Jones stunned Clay with a solid right-hand lead early in the first round. Yes, Clay was near the ropes, but the ropes DID NOT keep him from being knocked down. Clay used some evasive tactics for 30 or 40 seconds, until his head cleared sufficiently, and then he began trading punches with Jones again. By the middle of the round, the impact of Jones's right-hand blow had worn off completely. Clay, in fact, landed a couple of stiff rights himself before the end of the round. [details]