RCM Historical Boxing: Police Chief Tunney Hunsaker, Muhammad Ali’s Worst Fight
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
The late former three-times world heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali, then Cassius Clay, in view of this reporter fought his worst professional fight on October 29, 1960, in Freedom Hall Louisville, Kentucky, when he fought his pro debut against Tunney Hunsaker, the fearless and the youngest ever police chief of Fayetteville, West Virginia.
Then known as Cassius Clay before he converted to Islam and changed his name during the American Civil Rights Movement and the Vietnam War, Ali, the 1960 Olympic Games Light Heavyweight Gold medalist went six rounds with Hunsaker, then 17-91. Hunsaker finished his not so illustrious heavyweight career at 19-15-1 with 10 knockouts, having been stopped seven times between 1952 and 1962.
Hunsaker actually began his career a respectable 19-3-1. Hunsaker then lost nine straight, including losing to Ali during his final losing streak, and losing 12 of his final 14 bouts overall. Hunsaker’s career ended at 2:43 of the tenth round of a ten rounder when he was tragically knocked out by 2-5-1 Joe Shelton at Raleigh County Armory, in Beckley, West Virginia, on April 6, 1962, and suffered a brain hemorrhage. Hunsaker was in a coma for nine days after two brain operations, and suffered from the effects of the knockout for the rest of his life. Ali had defeated him with scorecards of 30-24, 30-23, and 30-19.
Hunsaker served as the Fayetteville Police Chief for 38 years, and was later inducted into the Law Enforcement Hall of Fame. At the Oak Hill Church of the Nazarene, he taught Sunday school to fifth and sixth grade boys, and was twice named the American Sunday School Church Teacher of the Year. At the time of his death in 1975, he had been married to his wife Patricia for 30 years.
Hunsaker was Ali’s worst bout because Ali was confounded by the differences in style between amateur boxers and professional boxers. Being the first pro boxer a nervous Cassius clay had faced, Clay had trouble with him, and caution and confusion resulted. Hunsaker later remarked “Ali was as fast (his hands throwing punches and his footwork) as lightning. I tried every trick to throw him off balance, but he was just too good.”. Ali later stated in his autobiography Hunsaker hit him with one of the hardest body blows he took in his career. Ali and Hunsaker maintained mutual respect and became good friends, staying in touch over the years. Hunsaker disagreed with Ali’s decision to refuse military service, but praised him as a great humanitarian and athlete.
Hunsaker died at age 74, on April 27, 2005. Ali also died at age 74, on June 3, 2016. Hunsaker also went the distance and lost an eight round decision to future WBA World Heavyweight champion Ernie Terrell on July 24, 1959, at Freedom Hall in Kentucky. Terrell lost his WBA title by 15 round decision in a unification match with Ali at the Houston Astrodome on February 6, 1967. Terrell, went 46-9 with 21 knockouts, who won seven straight comeback bouts at one point, retired in 1973 following a knockout loss to Jeff Merritt. Terrell, a singer like another ex-champ Joe Frazier, sang in the group Ernie Terrell & the Knockouts, later became an Illinois record producer, died at age 75 on December 6, 2014. Both Ali and Terrell, like Hunsaker, suffered from the health effects from the accumulation of blows received in their bouts in their final years.
Hunsaker fought his entire ten year professional career between 180 and 202 pounds, with all but two of those bouts categorized in the future cruiserweight division. Rocky Marciano and Archie Moore, when they fought in the heavyweight division, would be considered cruiserweights by today’s standards. Hunsaker looked more like a blown up light heavyweight. The heavyweight division, then and now, remains where the real money is.
Hunsaker started his career well, just got taken apart by two future world champions and more serious ‘A’ level opposition with a combined 159 wins during his final losing streak. Hunsaker fought two pro debuts, Cassius Clay, and Thomas Dejarnette of West Virginia, during the streak where he lost 12 of his last 14 pro bouts. TO his credit, Hunsaker, stopped in the eighth round by Dejarnette in 1961, knocked out Dejarnette in the first round of the rematch in 1962. In his next bout after fighting Cassius Clay, On March 21, 1961, Hunsaker was knocked out in the fifth round by rising heavyweight contender Alejandro Lavorante at Freeman Hall in San Antonio, Texas. Lavorante was in turn knocked out by Cassius Clay in the fifth round on July 20, 1962 at Sports Arena in Los Angeles, California. Lavorante died 16 months after getting knocked out in his next bout in Los Angeles, which took place on September 21, 1962. Unlike Hunsaker’s career ending knockout injury in 1962, Lavorante did not recover, and died on April 1, 1964 at age 27.
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