Date: 20/09/19 | Written By: Mark Connor
Professional Wrestling and Boxing have always had a special connection, and over the years the two worlds met for special events, such as when Muhammad Ali battled Antonio Inoki in a first-ever wrestling vs. boxing match, or when Mr. T battled Roddy Piper at WrestleMania's 1 and 2, and when "Iron" Mike Tyson knocked out Shawn Michaels at WrestleMania 14.
So in this series, we'll be taking a look at the many times the boxing world met with the pro wrestling world.
MUHAMMAD ALI (part one)
Back in summer of 1961, A man known as Cassius Clay, while in town for a boxing match against Duke Sabedong, went to a pro-wrestling event in Las Vegas, Nevada, and watched Gorgeous George battle Freddie Blassie. Unbeknownst to the world for many years, but it was this moment and the meeting backstage that would lead to the creation of the great personality behind the boxer of the man who'd go onto to become Muhammad Ali.
Clay would watch in awe at how George would command the attention of the crowds through his unique showmanship and brash personality, even if the people loved him or hated him, they were all still there to see him in some form, whether it was to see him get beaten up or come to see him beat someone else up.
In a brief chat backstage after his bout, George would teach the greatest Boxer to have ever lived to become the great personality that he became known for, along with his outstanding abilities. Clay would pay tribute to George for his character evolution to the Associated Press in a 1969 interview; "[I got it] from seeing Gorgeous George wrestle in Las Vegas, I saw his aides spraying deodorant in the opponents' corner to contain the smell. I also saw 13,000 full seats. I talked with Gorgeous for five minutes after the match and started being a big-mouth and a bragger. He told me people would come to see me get beat. Others would come to see me win. I'd get 'em coming and going."
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