July 23, 1961 - Cassius Clay, a relative newcomer to the professional boxing ranks, won a unanimous 10-round decision from Alonzo Johnson last night in Louisville's Freedom Hall before 6,000 fans. Clay, indifferent in the early rounds, went to work in the ninth and tenth and had his Pittsburgh opponent hanging on at the finish. The victory ran Clay's record to 8-0. During the first three rounds, Johnson, 26, carried the fight to his younger opponent and punched with both hands, but he couldn't elude Clay's sharp rights and lefts. Johnson began to slow down by the seventh. Clay stepped up the pace in the ninth. His jolting rights had Johnson back-pedaling.
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