I was at the smoke filled, old Chicago Stadium on May 12, 1959 with my dad, sitting about 4 or 5 rows back from ringside, for the Golden Gloves Tournament of Champions. My dad had 20 pro heavyweight fights during the Great Depression years. So he was well connected in getting good seats to a lot of fights in Chicago.

That particular night a 17 year old kid from Louisville Ky won the light heavyweight crown. My dad told me this kid named Cassius Marcellus Clay would be "a kid to watch someday".