Feats of Clay

"Somewhere," mused Heavyweight Champion Cassius Clay, 24, "there is a ten-year-old boy who is going to whip me." Meanwhile, Cassius is bumming around. Last week's punching bag was Brian London, a 32-year-old Blackpudlian whose face should be on posters warning, FASTEN YOUR SEATBELT. Cassius' motives for fighting London were 1) a pressing need for money (he must post a $50,000 alimony bond before Aug. 27 or go to jail), and 2) a fine regard for his personal safety. London already had been knocked out by Henry Cooper and Floyd Patterson--both of whom Clay had demolished. At 6 ft. 3 in., Cassius was a full three inches taller than London, and he had an advantage of seven inches in reach.

Clay amused himself by reddening London's nose with light jabs in the first round. In the second, he buckled the challenger's knees with a stiff right. In the third, he unleashed a blinding flurry of punches climaxed with a right cross that sent Brian beddie-by. Next stop on Champion Clay's world tour: Frankfurt, Germany, where he will fight European Champion Karl Mildenberger on Sept. 10. Then it's off to the Near East, "where I hope to fight all the best boxers of each country."

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