Question Is When, Not Will Clay Defeat London

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31129, 4 August 1966, Page 17

Question Is When, Not Will Clay Defeat London

(N.Z. Press Association—Copyright) LONDON. The only question being asked in fight circles about the Cassius Clay-Brian London world heavy-weight fight at Earl’s Court on Saturday night is when will Clay beat London—not whether he will.

Since Clay arrived in London to begin training the publicity has been so small for the fight that Clay has not even had a chance to profess his newfound modesty. In contrast to his fight in May against Henry Cooper, nobody can see how London can possibly win. Against Cooper, Clay had to watch out for the flashing left hook that had put him down in their previous fight, and, little as it was, it made the fight. But so far sportswriters and former champions alike have found nothing in London's armoury to worry Clay, let alone defeat him. Over-Reaching Himself Clay is superbly fit. He is fit to the point of nearly overreaching himself, and in the last few days has declined to spar for fear of going stale. He is, if anything, fitter than when he met Cooper and by the fifth round in that fight Clay was only warming to his evasive, side-stepping, back-pedalling style. London has been beaten three times by Cooper, and struggling for some ray of hope he can offer to the public—after all, it is a world heavy-weight fight—has likened himself to the rugged, mauling, Rocky Marciano, whom critics agree is the type of fighter to beat Clay. Marciano was not a boxer and neither is London—but there the similarity ends.

London has not the speed of Marciano nor the strength,

so even if he does finally catch Clay to hit him, it is doubtful that he could do any damage.

“They have given me a chance and I’ll have a belt,” London said. “I don’t think he will stop me.” There can be no doubt that London will be trying. In training he has punished sparring partners unmercifully, and several have pulled out with bruised ribs, but reliable reports question the quality of the training partners. Lost To Patterson London fought his first world heavy-weight title fight in 1959 when he went down to Floyd Patterson. Now, seven years later, he gets his second chance at a much better champion. In training Clay still

dances around the ring, slithers along the ropes and generally avoids his sparring partner. He looked weary after his work-out yesterday. But he was still fresh enough to crack jokes. “I won’t spar because there are spies in here,” he said—but it was perfectly clear to all why he did not need to spar.