London: Cassius Clay retained his world heavyweight boxing title championship when he stopped Britain’s champion, Henry Cooper, in the sixth round of their 15-round contest tonight. HT This Day: May 23, 1966 -- Cassius Clay retains world heavyweight boxing title (HT) After battling gamely for five rounds, a right caught him by his left eye and blood immediately gushed out. Within a few seconds his face and body were a crimson mass and it was obvious that the fight would be stopped.
Unlock exclusive access to the latest news on India's general elections, only on the HT App. Download Now! Download Now! Scottish referee George Smith, handling his first world championship bout, first took a quick look and allowed Cooper to box on. This was the signal for Clay to lean on relentlessly, with his cutting, stinging attacks, as he kept Cooper on the run.
Cooper battled on pluckily, forced Clay off, and tried to get grips. But Clay was too quick and before he could do any more damage the referee stopped the fight after 1 min. 38 sec.
of the sixth round. This was the signal for a pandemonium, within seconds the ring was crowded with photographers and well-wishers, and it was some time before a squad of police could control the situation. After the first couple of rounds Clay danced around the ring with his hands held low, taunting Cooper to “come and hit me.
” This Cooper did and, as is usual with Clay. It might have been a dreary fight if Cooper had not kept going forward doing his.
