Today, you are a member of… The Paying Canvas
That’s right, Members, on Oct. 29th, 1960 Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr., shedding his Olympic yet amateur condition, fought his first professional boxing match. His opponent? Tunny Hunsaker, the then chief of police of Fayetteville, West Virginia. And there in Louisville, Kentucky, by unanimous decision, before he had epic rivals, or poet retinues, or iconic status and a changed name, Mr. Clay got some pro victory. Such is the sweet science of your coming week: not the Muhammed Ali lighting up the Thrilla in Manila but the Cassius Clay that with his first step to the paying canvas, fought the law – and won.
