Zora Folley

Zora "Bell" Folley (27 Mei 1931—7 Juli 1972) adalah petinju kelas berat asal Amerika Serikat yang berkarier dari tahun 1953 hingga 1970 dan dikenal karena kemampuannya memukul keras dan gaya bertinju defensif.

Kehidupan awal
Lahir di Dallas, Texas, pada tanggal 27 Mei 1931, Folley bersama keluarganya pindah ke Chandler, Arizona, pada tahun 1942, tempat dia dibesarkan di sana sambil bermain bisbol. Setelah bergabung dengan Angkata Darat AS pada tahun 1948, dia mulai bertinju dan memenangkan 6th Army Championship dalam jangka waktu setahun, kemudian lanjut memenangkan gelar All-Army dan All-Service. Dia aktif menjalani wajib militer selama Perang Korea, mendapatkan lima Bintang Pertempuran, dan dibebastugaskan dari  Angkatan Darat AS pada tahun 1953 dengan pangkat Sersan.

Karier bertinju
Pada pertengahan tahun 1950-an, Foley menandatangai kontrak tinju profesional dan melakono pertandingan tinju profesional perdananya dengan kemenangan atas Jimmy Ingram. Kemudian setelah mendapat satu hasil imbang, dia memperoleh tujuh belas kemenangan beruntun sebelum dikalahkan Johnny Summerlin pada ronde keenam. Dalam pertandingan itu, rahangnya diduga patah setelah dia dirobohkan sebanyak tiga kali. Kendati dianggap sebagai salah satu petinju-penantang papan atas, Folley tidak pernah menghadapi juara tinju kelas berat, Floyd Patterson. Ini sebagian karena kekalahan (kalah poin) sangat kontroversial yang diterimanya saat melawan Henry Cooper di Inggris pada bulan September 1958 (yang kemudian dibalasnya pada bulan Desember 1961 melalui kemenangan KO pada ronde kedua).

Pertandingan-pertandingan besar 
Folley mengalahkan sejumlah penantang, yakni Eddie Machen, George Chuvalo, Bob Cleroux (dua kali), Oscar Bonavena (pertandingan pertama berat sebelah dan Bonavena dirobohkan oleh Folley, tetapi Bonavena menang pada pertandingan ulang yang digelar tiga tahun setelahnya) dan Doug Jones. Dia juga mendapat hasil imbang saat melawan Karl Mildenberger dan Eddie Machen (pada pertandingan pertama mereka). Pada tahun 1960 hingga 1962 Folley kalah KO oleh Sonny Liston, Alejandro Lavorante, dan Doug Jones (pada pertandingan kedua).

Perebutan gelar juara 
Folley baru bisa menghadapi sang juara tinju dunia kelas berat, Muhammad Ali, pada tanggal 22 Maret 1967 ketika Folley berumur 34 tahun. Sebelum pertandingan digelar, Ali bergurau mengatakan bahwa Folley adalah orang yang sangat baik sehingga memunculkan masalah nyata bagi Ali lantaran Ali mungkin tidak bisa marah kepadanya. Folley adalah salah satu yang pertama memanggil sang juara dunia itu dengan nama muslimnya, bukannya Cassius Clay. Ali menegaskan bahwa dia menghormati Folley dan sempat gugup sebelum pertandingan. Folley adalah petinju terakhir yang melawan Ali sebelum Ali dilarang bertinju selama tiga tahun mulai tahun 1967. Folley kalah KO pada ronde ketujuh. Folley bertanding hingga tiga tahun kemudian dan pensiun setelah kalah KO oleh Mac Foster pada tahun 1970.

Kematian

Secara misterius, Folley terluka parah pada kepalanya di kolam renang yang berada di sebuah motel ketika mengunjungi temannya di Tucson, Arizona, pada tanggal 8 Juli 1972, dan meninggal pada usia 41 tahun di rumah sakit setempat tidak lama setelahnya. Penyebab kematiannya resmi dinyatakan sebagai kecelakaan, tetapi teori konspirasi tentang kematiannya tetap eksis. Jenazah Folley dimakamkan di Pemakaman Kota Mesa, Mesa, Arizona.

Kehidupan pribadi
Folley menjabat sebagai anggota Dewan Kota Chandler, dan memiliki sebuah keluarga dengan sembilan anak bersama istrinya, Joella (1933—2011).

Penghormatan
Kota Chandler mendirikan Zora Folley Memorial Park untuk menghormatinya.

Rekor tinju profesional

|-
|align="center" colspan=8|79 Kemenangan (44 KO, 35 berdasarkan keputusan juri), 11 Kekalahan (7 KO, 4 berdasarkan keputusan juri), 6 Hasil imbang 
|-
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Hasil
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Rekor
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Lawan
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Jenis kemenangan/kekalahan
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Ronde
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Tanggal
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Lokasi
| align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3"|Catatan
|-align=center
|Kalah
|79–11–6
|align=left| Mac Foster
|KO
|1
|29/09/1970
|align=left| Selland Arena, Fresno, California
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|79–10–6
|align=left| Billy Joiner
|UD
|10
|05/11/1969
|align=left| Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|78–10–6
|align=left| Tommy "Hurricane" Sims
|KO
|1
|16/06/1969
|align=left| Phoenix Municipal Stadium, Phoenix, Arizona
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|77–10–6
|align=left| Sonny Moore
|TKO
|4
|30/01/1969
|align=left| Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada
|align=left|
|-
|Kalah
|76–10–6
|align=left| Oscar Bonavena
|MD
|10
|06/07/1968
|align=left| Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires
|align=left|
|-
|Imbang
|76–9–6
|align=left| Al "Goulds Terror" Jones
|SD
|10
|14/05/1968
|align=left| Miami Beach Convention Hall, Miami Beach, Florida
|align=left|
|-
|Imbang
|76–9–5
|align=left| Roger Russell
|SD
|10
|11/03/1968
|align=left| Philadelphia Arena, Philadelphia
|
|-
|Kalah
|76–9–4
|align=left| Brian London
|PTS
|10
|13/11/1967
|align=left| Liverpool Stadium, Liverpool, Merseyside
|
|-
|Menang
|76–8–4
|align=left| Nick Sosa
|KO
|2
|04/10/1967
|align=left| Madison Square Garden, Phoenix, Arizona
|
|-
|Menang
|75–8–4
|align=left| Wayne Kindred
|TKO
|8
|18/09/1967
|align=left| Silver Slipper, Las Vegas, Nevada
|
|-
|Kalah
|74–8–4
|align=left| Muhammad Ali
|KO
|7
|22/03/1967
|align=left| Madison Square Garden, New York City
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|74–7–4
|align=left| Floyd Joyner
|KO
|1
|17/01/1967
|align=left| Sam Houston Coliseum, Houston, Texas
|
|-
|Menang
|73–7–4
|align=left| Jefferson Davis
|UD
|10
|13/12/1966
|align=left| Houston, Texas
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|72–7–4
|align=left| Henry Clark
|UD
|10
|25/10/1966
|align=left| Sacramento Memorial Auditorium, Sacramento, California
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|71–7–4
|align=left| Jefferson Davis
|KO
|8
|28/06/1966
|align=left| Centennial Coliseum, Reno, Nevada
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|70–7–4
|align=left| Bob Foster
|UD
|10
|06/12/1965
|align=left| New Orleans Municipal Auditorium, New Orleans, Louisiana
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|69–7–4
|align=left| Oscar Bonavena
|UD
|10
|26/02/1965
|align=left| Madison Square Garden, New York City
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|68–7–4
|align=left| Gerhard Zech
|KO
|4
|14/11/1964
|align=left| Westfalenhallen, Dortmund, North Rhine-Westphalia
|align=left|
|-
|Imbang
|67–7–4
|align=left| Karl Mildenberger
|PTS
|10
|17/04/1964
|align=left| Festhalle Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Hesse
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|67–7–3
|align=left| Tod Herring
|TKO
|7
|17/03/1964
|align=left| Houston, Texas
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|66–7–3
|align=left| George Chuvalo
|UD
|10
|17/01/1964
|align=left| Cleveland Arena, Cleveland, Ohio
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|65–7–3
|align=left| Billy Daniels
|UD
|10
|17/10/1963
|align=left| Paul Sauve Arena, Montreal, Quebec
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|64–7–3
|align=left| Tiger Lynch
|KO
|5
|19/09/1963
|align=left| Boise, Idaho
|align=left|
|-
|Kalah
|63–7–3
|align=left| Ernie Terrell
|UD
|10
|27/07/1963
|align=left| Madison Square Garden, New York City
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|63–6–3
|align=left| Bob Cleroux
|UD
|10
|23/05/1963
|align=left| Paul Sauve Arena, Montreal, Quebec
|align=left|
|-
|Imbang
|62–6–3
|align=left| Dean Bogany
|TD
|5
|02/04/1963
|align=left| Bakersfield Civic Auditorium, Bakersfield, California
|align=left|
|-
|Kalah
|62–6–2
|align=left| Doug Jones
|KO
|7
|15/12/1962
|align=left| Madison Square Garden, New York City
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|62–5–2
|align=left| Dave Furch
|UD
|10
|19/11/1962
|align=left| Tucson, Arizona
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|61–5–2
|align=left| Al Gonzalez
|KO
|5
|29/08/1962
|align=left| Madison Square Garden, Phoenix, Arizona
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|60–5–2
|align=left| Doug Jones
|UD
|10
|01/08/1962
|align=left| Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|59–5–2
|align=left| Paul Andrews
|TKO
|7
|12/06/1962
|align=left| Sacramento, California
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|58–5–2
|align=left| Bob Cleroux
|UD
|10
|18/04/1962
|align=left| San Francisco Civic Auditorium, San Francisco, California
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|57–5–2
|align=left| Mike DeJohn
|KO
|3
|15/02/1962
|align=left| Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|56–5–2
|align=left| Henry Cooper
|KO
|2
|05/12/1961
|align=left| Empire Pool, Wembley, London
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|55–5–2
|align=left| Sonny "Policeman" Moore
|UD
|10
|28/09/1961
|align=left| El Paso County Coliseum, El Paso, Texas
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|54–5–2
|align=left| "Big" Ben Marshall
|KO
|2
|30/08/1961
|align=left| Madison Square Garden, Phoenix, Arizona
|align=left|
|-
|Kalah
|53–5–2
|align=left| Alejandro Lavorante
|KO
|7
|11/05/1961
|align=left| Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|53–4–2
|align=left| Norman Letcher
|TKO
|5
|10/02/1961
|align=left| Madison Square Garden, Phoenix, Arizona
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|52–4–2
|align=left| Willi Besmanoff
|UD
|10
|16/09/1960
|align=left| SW Washington Fairgrounds, Centralia, Washington
|align=left|
|-
|Kalah
|51–4–2
|align=left| Sonny Liston
|KO
|3
|18/07/1960
|align=left| Denver Coliseum, Denver, Colorado
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|51–3–2
|align=left| Clarence Williams
|UD
|10
|05/04/1960
|align=left| Sacramento, California
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|50–3–2
|align=left| Eddie Machen
|UD
|12
|18/01/1960
|align=left| Cow Palace, Daly City, California
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|49–3–2
|align=left| Alonzo Johnson
|UD
|10
|18/11/1959
|align=left| Caravan Inn East, Phoenix, Arizona
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|48–3–2
|align=left| Monroe Ratliff
|TKO
|2
|02/10/1959
|align=left| San Diego Arena, San Diego, California
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|47–3–2
|align=left| Howard "Honeyboy" King
|MD
|10
|04/08/1959
|align=left| Sacramento, California
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|46–3–2
|align=left| "Chief" Alvin Williams
|KO
|4
|07/07/1959
|align=left| Fresno Memorial Auditorium, Fresno, California
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|45–3–2
|align=left| Willi Besmanoff
|UD
|10
|07/04/1959
|align=left| Denver, Colorado
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|44–3–2
|align=left| Hank Thurman
|UD
|10
|10/03/1959
|align=left| Madison Square Garden, Phoenix, Arizona
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|43–3–2
|align=left| Alex Miteff
|UD
|10
|29/01/1959
|align=left| Denver Auditorium Arena, Denver, Colorado
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|42–3–2
|align=left| Joe Bygraves
|TKO
|9
|24/11/1958
|align=left| Granby Halls, Leicester, Leicestershire
|align=left|
|-
|Kalah
|41–3–2
|align=left| Henry Cooper
|PTS
|10
|14/10/1958
|align=left| Empire Pool, Wembley, London
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|41–2–2
|align=left| Pete Rademacher
|KO
|4
|25/07/1958
|align=left| Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|40–2–2
|align=left| Art Swiden
|UD
|10
|19/05/1958
|align=left| Las Vegas, Nevada
|align=left|
|-
|Imbang
|39–2–2
|align=left| Eddie Machen
|SD
|12
|09/04/1958
|align=left| Cow Palace, Daly City, California
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|39–2–1
|align=left| Garvin Sawyer
|UD
|10
|01/01/1958
|align=left| Capitol Arena, Washington, District of Columbia
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|38–2–1
|align=left| Edgardo Romero
|TKO
|4
|04/12/1957
|align=left| Albuquerque Civic Auditorium, Albuquerque, New Mexico
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|37–2–1
|align=left| Duke Sabedong
|KO
|4
|21/11/1957
|align=left| Phoenix, Arizona
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|36–2–1
|align=left| Monroe Ratliff
|UD
|10
|10/09/1957
|align=left| Madison Square Garden, Phoenix, Arizona
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|35–2–1
|align=left| Edgardo Romero
|TKO
|6
|05/08/1957
|align=left| Dallas Memorial Auditorium, Dallas, Texas
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|34–2–1
|align=left| Jeff Dyer
|UD
|10
|09/07/1957
|align=left| Phoenix Coliseum, Phoenix, Arizona
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|33–2–1
|align=left| Julius Griffin
|TKO
|4
|18/06/1957
|align=left| Madison Square Garden, Phoenix, Arizona
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|32–2–1
|align=left| Jimmy Wood
|KO
|2
|20/05/1957
|align=left| Sports Center, Tucson, Arizona
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|31–2–1
|align=left| JD Harvey
|KO
|4
|18/04/1957
|align=left| Sports Arena, Yuma, Arizona
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|30–2–1
|align=left| Johnny Hollins
|KO
|2
|12/03/1957
|align=left| Madison Square Garden, Phoenix, Arizona
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|29–2–1
|align=left| Howie Turner
|UD
|10
|11/02/1957
|align=left| St. Nicholas Arena, New York City
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|28–2–1
|align=left| Wayne Bethea
|SD
|10
|09/01/1957
|align=left| Syracuse War Memorial Arena, Syracuse, New York
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|27–2–1
|align=left| Wayne Bethea
|SD
|10
|03/12/1956
|align=left| St. Nicholas Arena, New York City
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|26–2–1
|align=left| Nino Valdes
|UD
|10
|25/09/1956
|align=left| Softball Park, Phoenix, Arizona
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|25–2–1
|align=left| Roger Rischer
|UD
|12
|15/08/1956
|align=left| Madison Square Garden, Phoenix, Arizona
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|24–2–1
|align=left| Rocky Robinson
|KO
|8
|28/05/1956
|align=left| Sports Center, Tucson, Arizona
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|23–2–1
|align=left| Ponce DeLeon Taylor
|KO
|7
|08/05/1956
|align=left| Phoenix Municipal Stadium, Phoenix, Arizona
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|22–2–1
|align=left| Alex Watson Jones
|KO
|3
|28/02/1956
|align=left| Phoenix, Arizona
|align=left|
|-
|Kalah
|21–2–1
|align=left| Young Jack Johnson
|RTD
|5
|01/12/1955
|align=left| Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|21–1–1
|align=left| Reuben Wilson
|KO
|8
|24/09/1955
|align=left| Clifton, Arizona
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|20–1–1
|align=left| Ted Calaman
|TKO
|4
|08/09/1955
|align=left| Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|19–1–1
|align=left| Jack Jarrod
|TKO
|7
|28/07/1955
|align=left| Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
|align=left|
|-
|Kalah
|18–1–1
|align=left| Johnny Summerlin
|RTD
|6
|23/06/1955
|align=left| Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|18–0–1
|align=left| Howard "Honeyboy" King
|TKO
|1
|16/05/1955
|align=left| Kezar Stadium, San Francisco, California
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|17–0–1
|align=left| Calvin Brad
|TKO
|7
|07/04/1955
|align=left| Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|16–0–1
|align=left| Kirby Seals
|TKO
|5
|24/02/1955
|align=left| Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|15–0–1
|align=left| JD Reed
|TKO
|8
|20/01/1955
|align=left| Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|14–0–1
|align=left|Kid Zanzibar
|KO
|7
|18/12/1954
|align=left| Clifton, Arizona
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|13–0–1
|align=left| Jimmy Ingram
|PTS
|10
|26/11/1954
|align=left| Madison Square Garden, Phoenix, Arizona
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|12–0–1
|align=left| Georgie Woods
|PTS
|10
|23/10/1954
|align=left| Madison Square Garden, Phoenix, Arizona
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|11–0–1
|align=left| Sandy McPherson
|UD
|8
|01/10/1954
|align=left| Edmonton Gardens, Edmonton, Alberta
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|10–0–1
|align=left| Kid Percy
|KO
|N/A
|28/08/1954
|align=left| Clifton, Arizona
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|9–0–1
|align=left| Kirby Seals
|UD
|10
|13/08/1954
|align=left| San Diego Coliseum, San Diego, California
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|8–0–1
|align=left| Frank Buford
|UD
|10
|12/07/1954
|align=left| Tucson, Arizona
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|7–0–1
|align=left| Johnny Rebel
|KO
|1
|10/06/1954
|align=left| Phoenix, Arizona
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|6–0–1
|align=left| Joe Sandell
|TKO
|3
|13/04/1954
|align=left| Softball Park, Phoenix, Arizona
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|5–0–1
|align=left| Battling Blackjack
|KO
|1
|26/03/1954
|align=left| Clifton, Arizona
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|4–0–1
|align=left| Howard "Honeyboy" King
|TKO
|7
|26/01/1954
|align=left| Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|3–0–1
|align=left| Lonnie Malone
|TKO
|2
|07/12/1953
|align=left| Arena, South Gate, California
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|2–0–1
|align=left| Joe Louis Brown
|KO
|8
|17/11/1953
|align=left| Phoenix, Arizona
|align=left|
|-
|Imbang
|1–0–1
|align=left| Calvin Chambers
|PTS
|4
|29/09/1953
|align=left| Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
|align=left|
|-
|Menang
|1–0
|align=left| Jimmy Ingram
|PTS
|4
|22/09/1953
|align=left| Olympic Auditorium, Los Angeles
|align=left|

Keluarga
Robert Folley, putra Zora Folley, bertanding di kelas berat-ringan dan melakoni laga profesional pertamanya di Felt Forum, 19 June 1986.

Referensi

Pranala luar
  Retrieved on February 5, 2008
 The Rise and Fall of Zora Folley The Sweet Science, September 9, 2005
 After Muhammad, a Graveyard Sports Illustrated, April 3, 1967
 

1932 births
1972 deaths
African-American boxers
Heavyweight boxers
United States Army personnel of the Korean War
Sportspeople from Dallas
Sportspeople from Chandler, Arizona
Arizona city council members
American male boxers
20th-century American politicians
Boxers from Texas
Boxers from Arizona
20th-century African-American politicians