March 22, 1967 – Muhammad Ali vs. underdog Zora Folley – a better fight than many expected

Muhammad Ali’s jab was long and sharp.

It stung. He’d draw blood – using the left to set up rapid-fire combinations and then float away, like a butterfly. His left hand rendered heavyweight champion Sonny Liston ineffective in 1964.

Halfway thru the fight, Liston’s eyes were slits from several jabs and hooks.

Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, was shockingly the new champion. From 1964 to 67, he defeated Liston in a rematch, ex-champion Floyd Patterson, burly George Chuvalo, bloody Henry Cooper, southpaw Brian London, Karl Mildenberger, Cleveland Williams, and Ernie Terrell.

Only 72 days after defeating Terrell, Ali faced long-time contender Zora Folley at Madison Square Garden in New York.

Folley was 34 and considered over-the-hill – engaging in 85 fights over 17 years, winning 74.

Ali was a heavy favorite on fight night – predicting his opponent’s demise by round seven.

Folley had fought and defeated Chuvalo, Oscar Bonavena, Bob Foster, Doug Jones, and Englishman Henry Cooper, whose left hook planted Clay/Ali on his booty in 1963.

Before the bout started, Folley waited patiently in his corner—the ultimate old pro.

Ali circled in the opening round while Folley stalked. The challenger landed the first punch of the fight, a right hand to Ali’s chest. Ali missed with a combination. Folley connected with a few body blows and his left jab. Ali jabbed a few times and missed.

Folley’s best punch was his right hand. Two minutes into the round, he let it fly. The blow landed. Seconds later, another found Ali’s chin. The crowd roared, but Ali cooly stayed away.

Ali got to work immediately in round two by jabbing more, but Folley blocked most of them. The challenger waited. He fired an overhand right that touched Ali. The champion ducked and weaved but was still short with his blows. Folley was the aggressor. Every few seconds, he would fire his right.

Folley had banked the first two rounds. The old guy had fared better in the early going than Liston had in his two encounters with Ali.

Ali made some adjustments during the next heat. The self-proclaimed “Greatest” moved around the ring, using feints and head movement. Ali approached Folley, bouncing on his toes, preparing to unleash punches. His jab was now landing consistently.

Folley waited – then fired a counter. Ali landed a sneaky right near the end of the round that bothered Folley.

The blow foreshadowed what was to come.

Ali was flat-footed in round four. He caught his foe with another lead right—followed by a left that dropped Folley on his face.

The fight looked over, but Folley sat up at the count of four. He beat the count and waited for Ali.

Ali tried to end the fight, but Folley fought back – connecting with a right. Ali clipped Folley with a sharp counter near the bell.

The next two rounds were competitive. Ali’s jab had found the range. Folley fought back. Ali altered his style in both rounds, switching from flat-footed to movement. Folley looked a little tired while Ali was dancing and stinging.

Before round seven, Ali’s manager, Herbert Muhammad, advised Ali to stop playing.

Ali followed orders—two sharp rights connected – buzzing Folley. Folley fired a big shot, but Ali rolled with it and reacted quickly. A three-punch combo landed – seconds later, a short right deposited Folley on his face.

This time, he couldn’t beat the count.

Muhammad Ali had won his 29th successive bout.

After the fight, Ali said,

“Folley bothered me for a while. He was smart, he was takin his time and stalking. A few body blows shook me up.”

Zora Folley had given it all. His career ended in 1970.

His life three years later.

Muhammad Ali vs Zora Folley HD