Sonny Banks

Lucien "Sonny" Banks (June 29, 1940 – May 13, 1965)[1] was a mid-20th Century American boxer who is primarily historically remembered for being the first competitor to knock down Cassius Clay (later "Muhammad Ali") in a professional match. In the early 1960s Banks was regarded in the sport as rising prospect known for a lightning fast left hook, but his career was cut short when he died from injuries sustained in the ring in 1965.

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.[2]

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.[3]

Death

Banks died on 13 May 1965 at the age of 24 from a head injury sustained three days earlier in a 9-round bout against Leotis Martin. His body was buried at Westlawn Cemetery in Wayne, Michigan.[4]

Professional boxing record
18 Wins (14 knockouts, 4 decisions), 7 Losses (5 knockouts, 2 decisions)[5]
Result Record Opponent Type Round Date Location Notes
Loss 18–7 Leotis Martin KO 9 1965-05-10 Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Banks died three days later from injuries sustained during the fight.
Loss 18–6 Cleveland Williams KO 6 1964-07-21 Houston, Texas
Win 18–5 Don Warner KO 1 1964-05-18 Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Win 17–5 Lee Batts KO 2 1964-03-16 Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Batts knocked out at 1:08 of the second round.
Loss 16–5 Lee Batts SD 10 1963-11-29 Battle Creek, Michigan
Win 16–4 David E. Bailey SD 10 1963-10-18 Cobo Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Win 15–4 Jim Jones UD 8 1963-07-06 Madison Square Garden, New York City
Win 14–4 Freddie Mack SD 10 1963-06-05 Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan
Win 13–4 Leroy Roker TKO 6 1963-03-15 Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan Referee stopped the bout at 0:40 of the sixth round.
Win 12–4 Lou Bailey KO 1 1963-02-09 Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan
Win 11–4 Gene Jackson KO 3 1962-07-28 Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan Jackson knocked out at 2:02 of the third round.
Loss 10–4 Young Jack Johnson KO 5 1962-05-26 Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan
Loss 10–3 Cassius Clay TKO 4 1962-02-10 Madison Square Garden, New York City, New York Referee stopped the bout at 0:26 of the fourth round.
Win 10–2 Clay Thomas KO 2 1962-01-27 Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan
Win 9–2 Tunney Hunsaker KO 2 1961-10-16 Detroit, Michigan
Win 8–2 Willie Coleman TKO 5 1961-08-07 Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan Michigan Heavyweight Title.
Win 7–2 Joe Shelton KO 2 1961-06-06 Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan
Win 6–2 Herman Wilson KO 1 1961-04-25 Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan
Loss 5–2 Chuck Garrett PTS 5 1961-02-06 Marigold Gardens, Chicago, Illinois
Loss 5–1 Joe Shelton KO 3 1960-10-11 Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan
Win 5–0 Rufus Handsome KO 1 1960-09-23 Detroit Olympia, Detroit, Michigan
Win 4–0 Chico Gardner KO 4 1960-08-31 Chicago Stadium, Chicago, Illinois
Win 3–0 Ted Davis KO 1 1960-08-18 Graystone Ballroom, Detroit, Michigan
Win 2–0 Lloyd Washington KO 1 1960-07-12 Peace Bridge Arena, Fort Erie, Ontario
Win 1–0 Ernie Berthet, Jr. PTS 4 1960-05-19 Detroit, Michigan

References
  1. Boxing record for Sonny Banks from BoxRec
  2. Source: Rick Cleveland column.
  3. "Poet and Pedagogue," A.J. Liebling, New Yorker (Feb 1962). https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1962/03/03/poet-and-pedagogue
  4. Entry for Banks' grave in Findagrave (2019). https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/111532160/sonny-lucian-banks
  5. Boxing record for Sonny Banks. BoxRec.com.
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