Evening star., 1963-01-25
SKGH AT LARGE
Clay, Modesty
Still Strangers
By MORRIS sIEeEL

PITTSBURGH JAN. 25--"Did he hurt you at ALP"
Someone asked Cassus Marcelus Clay tmdly last night
after he had disposed of Charlie Powell in the predicted
three rounds
"Of course he did," the Great Mouthpiece said some
what sadly. "Tm human, amt ~
If he is, and there shreds Of evidence here and
there then his vocal chords aren't They must have been
installed by eectroncs expert They also are equipped
with lifetime needle
Golde Ahearn, Washington's classic singles flibuster
champion Harpo Marx compared to Clay, the original
Louisville Lip.
Clay arrived in Pittsburgh last week. If he failed to
leave the impression that he's the greatest
sassin since Jack the Ripper it's his fault He's
tainly been on the soap box rying-mornng noon and
night.
THIS 2l-YEAR-oLD CoRNBAIL, named after of
Kenuckys most famous Bowie knife fighters is promot
ers delight powerful example of his box office appeal
was made amply clear last night.
More than 1000 people out in 12-degree below
zero weather and paid gross gate Of $5582 to watch the
popof champ fail Powell who didn't take much failing.
Powell the 18th straight victim Of al-conquerng
Cassus Clays future opposition more formidable
than Powell he'll eventually have longer winning streak
than Antonno Rocca and the Harlem Globerotters
bined.
Powell must have had a notion that once Clay
chomped down his protective rubber mouthpece Cassus
would be at disadvantage He couldn't talk In Powels
Clay let his fists do the talking Clays handlers
claim their boy has the fastest hands in the world They
could make the same boast of his gums and go uncha
lenged.
CLAY sTRUTTED INTO HIS dressing room like he was
Alexander the Great after knocking off dozen armies
single -handedy.
You're the greatest Cassius" an anonymous man
said.
"An't II" Cassus agreed with characteristic i'm
modesty They all must fall in the round CALI the poet
laureate of fist fighting added He next quickly estimated
that Doug Jones' docketed New York March 49, would
60 in six "And Lston in eight" he said taking Of
the heavyweight situation in two sentences
Rejecting on his Liston prophecy for a moment, he
thought he might forced to amend 1t later and reduce
the current ehoders life expectancy when they meet to
six rounds
Depends on If he pops off any more" the Great One
declared with warning note in his voice Right now
want to do something special want Doug Jones and
Billy Daniels both in the ring on the same night"
JUST WHY HE WANTED to double his pleasure and
his fun by taking two fighters into the ring instead Of
something he didn't bother to make clear The way
Clay analyses himself he whips fighter mentally as well
physically.
Tonight looked over there at Powell when he was
waiting for the bell for the third round Cassus jabbered
machinegun style in high pitched voice Man. he had
worried look He knowed it the third round and he
going to get it. Just like ole Arch Moore Didn't
say Moore in four2 amt kidding They all must fall in
the round I call" -. '
Cays conversational bounds know limits At his
prefght meal yesterday he touched variety of sub
ects ranging from President Kennedy to Gorgeous George
The Gorgeous One is Cassus oratorca hero This helps
account for the monotonou confidence known only to
wrestlers until Clay began stealing their stuff.
CLAY's BIOGRAPHIES will have no trouble research
ing this young tiger His encourage for the Powell shndg
included photographer Cassus flew in from Los Angeles
Making pictures of me, the greatest and just me for
my life story he explained An interviewer apologetcay
asked who doing his life story
Right now, nobody" he said, "but they will soon.
I'll be so great they'll have to-"
The self-inflcted convictions of this immature Dizzy
Dean type have rubbed off the vice president Of Of
Kentuckys largest dsteries He is of 10 prominent
Kenuckians who bankrolng Cassius and serving as
his board Of directors.
When asked his name the proud one-tenth owner
answered:
BILL Faversham. It's spelled FA-v like in victory,
like Cassius you know"