RCM Historical Boxing: Rudy Clay, The Forgotten Warrior
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Rudy Clay, AKA Rahman Ali, Muhammad Ali’s brother, is truly “the forgotten warrior” of professional boxing. Well-known boxing brothers involving at least one heavyweight, like Rudy Clay and Cassius Clay (Muhammad Ali), include: Larry Holmes and Mark Holmes, Michael Spinks and Leon Spinks, Duane Bobick and Rodney Bobick, Jerry Quarry (heavyweight contender) and Mike Quarry and Bobby Quarry, Mike Tyson and Cliff Couser, Wladimir Klitschko, and Vitali Klitschko, Tyson Fury and Tommy Fury, Max Baer and Buddy Baer, Chris Byrd and Patrick Byrd and Antoine Byrd, Floyd Patterson and Ray Patterson, Tony Tubbs and Nate Tubbs, Jose Ribalta (youngest who fought Mike Tyson) and his brother Jose Ribalta (heavyweight) middle brother who fought Teofilo Stevenson three times in the 1970’s as an amateur), and Jose Ribalta (the eldest, who fought as a welterweight), Deontay Wilder and Marsellos Wilder (cruiserweight) are the best-known examples. Actually, boxing brothers involving at least one heavyweight were, are and will always be rare. Boxing brothers in the lower weight classes, even twins, are not unusual, especially if they grew up in the gym with a father who was a pro boxer.
Born July 18, 1944, Rudy Clay, also known as Rudolph Valentino Clay, later Rahman Ali, turned professional on February 25, 1964, winning a four-round decision heavyweight debut over 4-2 Chip Johnson in the opening bout at Miami Beach Convention Center. His brother, Cassius Clay (later Muhammad Ali) won the world heavyweight title that night with a sixth-round stoppage of Charles “Sonny” Liston.
Now known as Rahman Ali, Rudy Clay went 14-1 in his first 15 pro bouts, losing only a six-round decision to future British Commonwealth British Empire Heavyweight champion and BBB of C Northern Ireland Heavyweight champion Danny McAlinden. Rudy won ten rounders over Levi Forte (who later went the distance with George Foreman), Tommy Hayward, Stamford Harris, Clement Greenridge and Carl Baker, and drew over ten rounds with Jasper Evans. After losing a ten-round decision to Roy “Cookie” Wallace, Rahman Ali retired after suffering an eighth-round knockout loss to Jack O’Halloran in San Diego in 1972 (O’Halloran had been previously knocked out by George Foreman). Rahman Ali finished with a 14-3-1 professional record, exiting the boxing arena before his brother Muhammad Ali would knock out George Foreman in “The Rumble in the Jungle” in Kinshasa, Zaire (now known as the Democratic Republic of the Congo) in December 1974. Rahman Ali co-wrote his autobiography “That’s Muhammad Ali’s Brother! My Life on the Undercard” in 2015 with H. Ron Brashear.
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