Sonny Banks
Lucien "Sonny" Banks (June 29, 1940 – May 13, 1965)[1] was an American boxer best known for being the first fighter to drop a young Muhammad Ali (then Cassius Clay). At the time Banks was a rising prospect and known for a fast sharp left hook.
Banks was from Lee County in northeast Mississippi, near Tupelo. He was born in the farming community Birmingham Ridge, about halfway between Tupelo and Saltillo. (Source: Rick Cleveland column)
Banks fought Clay in 1962 and knocked him down for a count, although he lost the match. Banks at the age of 24, died in 1965 from injuries sustained in a 9-round bout against Leotis Martin.
Professional boxing record
| 18 Wins (14 knockouts, 4 decisions), 7 Losses (5 knockouts, 2 decisions)[2] | |||||||
| Result | Record | Opponent | Type | Round | Date | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 14-1 |  Leotis Martin |
KO | 9 | 1965-05-10 | Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Banks died three days later from injuries sustained during the fight. |
| Loss | 59-5-1 | Cleveland Williams |
KO | 6 | 1964-07-21 | Houston, Texas |
|
| Win | 13-11-3 | Don Warner |
KO | 1 | 1964-05-18 | Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
|
| Win | 9-0 | Lee Batts |
KO | 2 | 1964-03-16 | Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
Batts knocked out at 1:08 of the second round. |
| Loss | 8-0 | Lee Batts |
SD | 10 | 1963-11-29 | Battle Creek, Michigan |
|
| Win | 14-8-3 | David E. Bailey |
SD | 10 | 1963-10-18 | Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan |
|
| Win | 10-0 | Jim Jones |
UD | 8 | 1963-07-06 | Madison Square Garden, New York City |
|
| Win | 19-14-2 | Freddie Mack |
SD | 10 | 1963-06-05 | Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan |
|
| Win | 4-2 | Leroy Roker |
TKO | 6 | 1963-03-15 | Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan |
Referee stopped the bout at 0:40 of the sixth round. |
| Win | 10-18-5 | Lou Bailey |
KO | 1 | 1963-02-09 | Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan |
|
| Win | 9-11 | Gene Jackson |
KO | 3 | 1962-07-28 | Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan |
Jackson knocked out at 2:02 of the third round. |
| Loss | 23-17-1 | Young Jack Johnson |
KO | 5 | 1962-05-26 | Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan |
|
| Loss | 10-0 | Cassius Clay |
TKO | 4 | 1962-02-10 | Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan |
Referee stopped the bout at 0:26 of the fourth round. |
| Win | 14-3-2 | Clay Thomas |
KO | 2 | 1962-01-27 | Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan |
|
| Win | 16-13-1 | Tunney Hunsaker |
KO | 2 | 1961-10-16 | Detroit, Michigan |
|
| Win | 8-5 | Willie Coleman |
TKO | 5 | 1961-08-07 | Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan |
Michigan Heavyweight Title. |
| Win | 3-3-1 | Joe Shelton |
KO | 2 | 1961-06-06 | Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan |
|
| Win | -- | Herman Wilson |
KO | 1 | 1961-04-25 | Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan |
|
| Loss | 2-6 | Chuck Garrett |
PTS | 5 | 1961-02-06 | Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois |
|
| Loss | 2-1-1 | Joe Shelton |
KO | 3 | 1960-10-11 | Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan |
|
| Win | 2-1 | Rufus Handsome |
KO | 1 | 1960-09-23 | Detroit Olympia, Detroit, Michigan |
|
| Win | -- | Chico Gardner |
KO | 4 | 1960-08-31 | Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois |
|
| Win | 1-3 | Ted Davis |
KO | 1 | 1960-08-18 | Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan |
|
| Win | -- | Lloyd Washington |
KO | 1 | 1960-07-12 |  Peace Bridge Arena, Fort Erie, Ontario |
|
| Win | 1-1-1 | Ernie Berthet, Jr. |
PTS | 4 | 1960-05-19 | Detroit, Michigan |
|
References
- West Side Boxing News: "15 Round: The True Championship Distance"
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