July 1963: From his early days boxing as Cassius Clay to later when he became a world figure, Muhammad Ali paid several visits to Scranton and his training camp in Schuylkill County.
His first visit to Scranton came on July 15, 1963, as a guest for an outdoor boxing fundraiser organized by the Scranton Elks Club.
That day, Ali also visited The Scranton Times’ sports desk and shook hands with the Times’ news department, remarking with each handclasp, “You are shaking the hand of the next world heavyweight champion.” Without urging, Ali went into this poetry: “If you want to lose your money – bet on Sonny,” and, “If you want a happy day – bet on Clay.” He also was interviewed on Times Radio station WEJL at noon, and the tape was heard at 1:30p.m.
At the fundraiser, Ali wasn’t at a loss for words.
“Look over at this side and you see a few scattered people, and on the other side there are no people,” he said. “I fought and won before more than 50,000 in my last fight in England, and even Cleopatra was at ringside. Then in Madison Square Garden, I sold out the house one week before the fight. If I knew this condition, I would have donned boxing gloves and engaged in a few rounds of boxing with my brother Rudolph.”
On Nov. 11, 1972, Ali returned to Scranton, but this time he was here to fight as part of a boxing card that had him spar against Billy Williams, Ray Anderson and Eddie Jones at the Catholic Youth Center.
Following this fight, he spoke with the press and admitted that he felt sluggish in his sparring matches. He said that he “ate two big steaks before I came here. And that’s a big mistake. It’s just a good thing I’m in shape or I’d really know it.”
Ali came to Scranton again in 1981 for a different kind of fight. On Aug. 4, Ali campaigned for independent mayoral candidate Angelo Craig. In addition to endorsing Craig in the race against Democrat James Barrett McNulty and Republican Gene Veno, Ali stopped by City Hall and posed for photos with employees and Mayor Eugene Hickey.
A reporter reached out to McNulty to see if he would ask Ali with some help for his campaign.
“No, I’m going to get Larry Holmes – he beat him,” McNulty said.
Photo gallery
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- Cassius Marcellus Clay, 21, the “Louisville Lip” whose boxing ability, poerty, plus his success in naming the rounds in which he has won most of his fights in his sensational climb to the position as No. 1 challenger for the world heavyweight boxing championship, now held by Charles (Sonny) Liston, is a welcome visitor at The Times sports desk on July 15, 1963. Clay is the top celebrity at the Elks outdoor Christmas Fund show this evening at Memorial Stadium. In the picture, from left: Managing Editor Edward J Gerrity, Rudolph (Valentino) Clay, Cassius’ older brother; Manny Gelb, general chairman of the Elks charity promotion; Clay, Joe M. Butler, Times sports editor; Ronald King, chauffeur and bodyguard for “Cas”; Chic Feldman, sports editor at Scrantonian-Tribune, and Joseph F Gilroy, Times acting city editor. Clay shook hands with men and women in the Times news department, remarking with each handclasp: “You are shaking the hand of the next world heavyweight champiom.” Without urging, Cassius went into this poetry – “If you want to lose your money – bet on Sonny.” And “if you want a happy day – bet on Clay.” Cassius was also interviewed on Times Radion Station WEJL at noon and the tape was heard at 1:30. Times-Tribune Archives
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- Cassius Marcellus Clay, the fabulous “Louisville Lip,” lost no time in flexing his muscles and displaying his powerful bday shortly after arriving in Scranton on July 14, 1963 at the Hotel Jermyn. Billy Halpin, sportcaster for WNEP-TV is pictured with Clay. Clay and many other national celebrities will attend the Scranton Elks charity boxing and entertainment show at Memorial Stadium on July 15. Times-Tribune Archives
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- Frank Blewitt, Times general manager, shakes Cassius Clay hand at Brutico’s Restaurant in Old Forge on July 15, 1963. Lou Pagnotti and Henry (Sharky) Ventre hosted a dinner for Clay at the restaurant before the Scranton Elks Christmas Fund show at Memorial Stadium. Times-Tribune Archives
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- Muhammad Ali speaking at a press conference in Scranton on Nov. 9, 1972. Times-Tribune Archives
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- Muhammad Ali, repsonds to question from the floor at news conference held Thursday Nov 9, 1972 at the Holiday Inn. Session was called to promote Ali’s appearance in the ring Saturday night in Scranton. Times-Tribune Archives
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- Muhammad Ali casts a big shadow as he listens to a question from the floor at press conference in Scranton on Nov. 9, 1972. Times-Tribune Archives
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- Muhammad Ali goes into a quick dance routine to emphasis a point he made during a press conference in Scanton on Nov. 9, 1972. Times-Tribune Archives
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- Members of the press in attendance at the Muhammad Ali press conference in Scranton on Nov. 9, 1972. Times-Tribune Archives
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- An impression of a young Muhammad Ali etched into a wall of the Deer Lake facility. Photo was taken in April 1980. Michael J. Mullen/Staff Photographer
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- Dr. Joseph A. Perfilio of Scranton examines the hand and fist of heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali prior to giving Ali a chiropractic “tune-up” at his Deer Lake training camp. The examination took place before Ali left Pennsylvania for his fight with George Foreman for the world’s heavyweight title on Sept. 24, 1974 in Zaire.
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- Muhammad Ali during a training sesssion at his Deer Lake training camp in August 1980. Michael J. Mullen/Staff Photographer
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- Muhammad Ali during a training sesssion at his Deer Lake training camp in August 1980. Michael J. Mullen/Staff Photographer
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- Working on sharpening his punching and jabbing skills, Muhammad Ali pounds the heavy bag during a training sesssion at his Deer Lake training camp in August 1980. Michael J. Mullen/Staff Photographer
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- Muhammad Ali watching himself in a mirror while he was skipping rope during a training sesssion at his Deer Lake training camp in August 1980. Michael J. Mullen/Staff Photographer
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- Muhammad Ali takes a break during a workout at his Deer Lake training camp to talk to well-wishers on Sept 9, 1978. Ali will meet Leon Spinks for the heavyweight championship Sept. 15 in New Orleans. Michael J. Mullen/Staff Photographer
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- Three time heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali adjuts his tie as he heads for a press conference on August 4 1981 on behalf of Angelo Craig, right, independent candidate for mayor of Scranton. Times-Tribune Archives
Related:
Ali Documentary on PBS
On Sunday, Sept. 19, PBS premiered a four-part documentary on Ali at 8p.m. (check local listings). The documentary was directed by Ken Burns along with Sarah Burns and David McMahon. Link to PBS’ Ali landing page – https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/muhammad-ali/ .
Driving Ali – fun story from our archives dealing with Scranton man’s chance of lifetime to be a driver for Ali during his 1963 visit to Scranton – https://accessnepa.com/pages-from-the-past/driving-ali
Brian Fulton has been the librarian at The Times-Tribune for the past 15 years. On his blog, Historically Hip, he writes about the great concerts, plays/musicals and celebrity happenings that have taken place throughout NEPA. He is also the co-host of the local history podcast, Historically Hip. He competed and was crowned grand champion on an episode of NPR quiz show “Ask Me Another.” Contact: bfulton@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9140; or @TTPagesPast
