Zora Folley (27 May 1932–July 9, 1972) was an African-American heavyweight boxer. Events 927 - Simeon the Great, Tsar of Bulgaria, dies 1120 - Richard III of Capua is anointed Year 1932 ( MCMXXXII) was a Leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 455 - Roman military commander Avitus is proclaimed Emperor of the Western Roman Empire. Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa Boxing (sometimes also known as English boxing or pugilism) is a Combat sport in which two participants generally of similar weight,
Born in Dallas, Texas, he moved with his family to Chandler, Arizona in 1942, where he grew up playing baseball. Chandler is a city in Maricopa County, Arizona, and is a prominent suburb of the Phoenix Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA Upon joining the U.S. Army in 1948, he entered the boxing ring, and won the 6th Army championship within a year, eventually earning the All-Army and All-Service titles. The United States Army is a military organization whose primary mission is to "provide necessary forces and capabilities. He fought in the Korean War, earning five battle stars, and was discharged in 1953. The Korean War refers to a period of military conflict between North Korean and South Korean regimes with major hostilities lasting from June 25 1950 until the
He then signed a professional boxing contract, winning his first pro fight against Jimmy Ingram, then after a draw, won seventeen straight victories until losing to Johnny Summerlin. Despite being considered a top contender, Folley never faced heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson. Floyd Patterson ( January 4, 1935 – May 11, 2006) was an American heavyweight boxing champion. This was partly due to his loss by decision to Henry Cooper in September 1958 (which was avenged in December 1961). Sir Henry Cooper OBE, KSG (born May 3 1934) in South East London, is a retired English Heavyweight Folley beat such contenders as Eddie Machen, George Chuvalo, Bob Cleroux, Oscar Bonavena, and Doug Jones. Edward Mills Machen ( June 15 1932 - August 8 1972) was born in Redding California, on June 15, 1932. George Louis Chuvalo, CM (born September 12, 1937) is a retired Canadian heavyweight boxer who was never knocked down in ninety-three Oscar Natalio "Ringo" Bonavena ( September 25, 1942 in Buenos Aires, Argentina – May 22, 1976 near Reno Doug Jones is the name of Doug Jones (actor (born 1960 American film actor Doug Jones (boxer (born 1937 American heavyweight boxer He also had draws with Karl Mildenberger and Eddie Machen (their first fight). Karl Mildenberger (born Kaiserslautern, 23 November 1937) is a retired German Heavyweight boxer. Edward Mills Machen ( June 15 1932 - August 8 1972) was born in Redding California, on June 15, 1932. Between 1960 and 1962 Folley was knocked out by Sonny Liston, Alejandro Lavorante, and Doug Jones(the rematch). Charles L "Sonny" Liston (May 8 1932?–January 5 1971 was a professional boxer who became world heavyweight champion in 1962 by knocking out Floyd
It wasn't until March 22, 1967, that he faced the world heavyweight champion, who at this point was Muhammad Ali. Biography Early life Cassius Clay Jr was born on January 17 1942 Folley was knocked out in the 7th round. Folley fought for three more years afterward before being knocked out by Mac Foster in 1970. MacArthur 'Mac' Foster (born 27 June 1942) is a retired American Heavyweight boxer.
Folley served as a member of the Chandler City Council, and raising a family of eight children with his wife Joella. Before their fight, Ali joked that Folley was such a nice man that it posed a real problem because he couldn't possibly get mad at him. Folley was one of the first to call the controversial champion by his Muslim name instead of Cassius Clay.
Under mysterious circumstances, Folley suffered severe head injuries in a motel swimming pool while visiting a friend in Tucson, Arizona on July 8, 1972, and died at a Tucson hospital within hours. Tucson (ˈtuːsɒn is the seat of Pima County Arizona, United States, located 118 miles (188 km) southeast The death was officially ruled to be accidental, but conspiracy theories regarding his death persist.
The city of Chandler dedicated Zora Folley Memorial Park in his honor.
Zora Folley's final career statistics were 79 wins, 11 losses, and 6 draws, with 43 wins by knockout.
External links
- Professional boxing record for Zora Folley from Boxrec Retrieved on 2008-02-05
- The Rise and Fall of Zora Folley The Sweet Science, September 9, 2005
- After Muhammad, a Graveyard Sports Illustrated, April 3, 1967
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