Lucien "Sonny" Banks (June 29, 1940 – May 13, 1965) was an American boxer who is famously known for being the first boxer to ever knock down Cassius Clay (later "Muhammad Ali") in a professional match. In the early 1960s Banks was regarded in the sport as a rising prospect known for a lightning fast left hook, but his career was cut short when he died from head injuries sustained in the ring in 1965 against Leotis Martin.
Early life Banks was from Lee County in north east Mississippi. He was born in the farming community at Birmingham Ridge, about halfway between Tupelo and Saltillo.Source: Rick Cleveland column.
Boxing career He fought Clay on 10 February 1962 in New York, and knocked him down for a count, although he went on to lose the match."Poet and Pedagogue," A.J. Liebling, New Yorker (Feb 1962). https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1962/03/03/poet-and-pedagogue
Death Banks died on 13 May 1965 at the age of 24 from head injuries sustained three days earlier in a 9-round bout against Leotis Martin.
Professional boxing record 18 Wins (14 knockouts, 4 decisions), 7 Losses (5 knockouts, 2 decisions)Boxing record for Sonny Banks. BoxRec.com. Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes Loss18–7 Leotis Martin KO 9 Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Loss 18–6 Cleveland Williams KO 6 1964-07-21 Houston, Texas, U.S. Win 18–5 Don Warner KO 1 1964-05-18 Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Win 17–5 Lee Batts KO 2 1964-03-16 Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. Loss 16–5 Lee Batts SD 10 1963-11-29 Battle Creek, Michigan, U.S. Win 16–4 David E. Bailey SD 10 1963-10-18 Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Win 15–4 Jim Jones UD 8 1963-07-06 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. Win 14–4 Freddie Mack SD 10 1963-06-05 Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Win 13–4 Leroy Roker TKO 6 1963-03-15 Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Win 12–4 Lou Bailey KO 1 1963-02-09 Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Win 11–4 Gene Jackson KO 3 1962-07-28 Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Loss 10–4 Young Jack Johnson KO 5 1962-05-26 Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Loss 10–3 Cassius Clay TKO 4 1962-02-10 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York, U.S. Win 10–2 Clay Thomas KO 2 1962-01-27 Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Win 9–2 Tunney Hunsaker KO 2 1961-10-16 Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Win 8–2 Willie Coleman TKO 5 1961-08-07 Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Win7–2 Joe Shelton KO 2 1961-06-06 Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Win 6–2 Herman Wilson KO 1 1961-04-25 Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Loss 5–2 Chuck Garrett PTS 5 1961-02-06 Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Loss 5–1 Joe Shelton KO 3 1960-10-11 Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Win 5–0 Rufus Handsome KO 1 1960-09-23 Detroit Olympia, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Win 4–0 Chico Gardner KO 4 1960-08-31 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois, U.S. Win 3–0 Ted Davis KO 1 1960-08-18 Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan, U.S. Win 2–0 Lloyd Washington KO 1 1960-07-12 Peace Bridge Arena, Fort Erie, Ontario, Canada Win 1–0 Ernie Berthet Jr. PTS 4 1960-05-19 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
References
External links
West Side Boxing News: "15 Round: The True Championship Distance"