Harold Johnson vs. Jesse Bowdry
Date February 7, 1961
Title(s) on the line vacant NBA light heavyweight title Tale of the tape
BoxerUnited States Harold JohnsonUnited States Jesse BowdryNickname"Hercules"HometownPhiladelphia, Pennsylvania Saint Louis, Missouri Pre-fight record62–8 (28 KO)28–5 (22 KO)Age32 years, 5 months22 years, 2 monthsHeight5 ft 10 in (178 cm)5 ft 10 in (178 cm)Weight171 lb (78 kg)173 lb (78 kg)StyleOrthodoxOrthodoxRecognitionThe Ring
Boxer United States Harold Johnson United States Jesse Bowdry
Nickname "Hercules"
Hometown Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Saint Louis, Missouri
Pre-fight record 62–8 (28 KO) 28–5 (22 KO)
Age 32 years, 5 months 22 years, 2 months
Height 5 ft 10 in (178 cm) 5 ft 10 in (178 cm)
Weight 171 lb (78 kg) 173 lb (78 kg)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition The Ring
Result
Johnson defeated Bowdry by 9th round TKO
Cassius Clay vs. Jim Robinson
Background The day before the bout Clay took part in a public sparring session with former heavyweight champion Ingemar Johansson , ahead of his third bout with Floyd Patterson .
Robinson was a last minute replacement for Willie Gullatt who was supposed to fight Clay on the night of the fight.
This fight was on the undercard of Harold Johnson vs. Jesse Bowdry for the vacant NBA light heavyweight title, which had been stripped from Archie Moore for failure to defend within six months.
The fights Clay vs. Robinson Cassius Clay vs. Jim Robinson
Tale of the tape
BoxerUnited States Cassius ClayUnited States Jim RobinsonNickname"The Louisville Lip""Sweet Jimmy"HometownLouisville , Kentucky Kansas City , Missouri Pre-fight record3–0 (2 KO)6–6–2 (4 KO)Age19 years35–36Height6 ft 3 in (191 cm)6 ft 0 in (183 cm)Weight193+1⁄2 lb (88 kg)177+1⁄2 lb (81 kg)StyleOrthodox OrthodoxRecognition1960 Olympic light heavyweight Gold Medallist
Boxer United States Cassius Clay United States Jim Robinson
Nickname "The Louisville Lip" "Sweet Jimmy"
Hometown Louisville , Kentucky Kansas City , Missouri
Pre-fight record 3–0 (2 KO) 6–6–2 (4 KO)
Age 19 years 35–36
Height 6 ft 3 in (191 cm) 6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Weight 193+1⁄2 lb (88 kg) 177+1⁄2 lb (81 kg)
Style Orthodox Orthodox
Recognition 1960 Olympic light heavyweight Gold Medallist
Result
Clay won by KO in 1st round (1:34)
Clay won the fight through a technical knockout when the referee stopped the fight in the first round.
Preceded byvs. Tony Esperti Cassius Clay 's boutsSucceeded byvs. Donnie Fleeman Preceded byvs. Harry Bellefonte Jim Robinson 's boutsSucceeded byvs. Claude Williams
Johnson vs. Bowdry Johnson, a 3-1 betting favorite, dominated the bout. Scoring knockdowns in the sixth and eighth rounds. Bowdry went down again in the ninth and got to his feet on the count of seven but the referee waved it off.
Preceded byvs. Clarence Floyd Harold Johnson 's boutsSucceeded byvs. Von Clay Preceded byvs. Willie Pastrano Jesse Bowdry's bouts 2 February 1961Succeeded byvs. Allan Harmon
Aftermath Speaking after the bout Johnson said "I don't feel like the champ yet, when I beat the old man (Archie Moore) I'll get that feeling."
Undercard Confirmed bouts: