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Early ALS signed “Your Fighting Friend, Cassius Clay, U.S. Champ,” one page, 8 x 7.25, August 1, 1960. Handwritten letter to his friend and fellow boxer Melvin D. Harrison, who trained with Clay for the Olympic Trials, in full (spelling and grammar retained): “I hope this letter finds you and your family well, I am here at Fort Dix getting ready for Rome, I am in the best of shape, I hope to soon be home with the world Championship soon, I am still hitting hard, Say look at here, We leave here on the 14 of august, so try to write me before then and send me Connie addrass will you, and try to get a picture of here, I stil dig her, so find here and let here know that I am still talking about here, get that picture man, 'please' I will send her and you a card from Rome Itly, Stay in training and you can't miss, tell all of the boys that I said hello, don't let me down about Connie.” Included with the letter is the original mailing envelope, hand-addressed by Clay, who incorporates his signature into the return address field, “Cassius M. Clay, c/o Special Service, U.S. Olympic Boxing team, Building 5434 Fort Dix, N.J.” In fine condition, with light handling wear, and a tiny tear and stain to the bottom edge.
Accompanied by full letters of authenticity from JSA and PSA/DNA, and a signed letter of provenance from Harrison, who writes: “I certify that I have been acquainted with Cassius Clay since 1960. We first met that year at a boxing tournament in Chicago and later at the Local 12 boxing gym in Toledo, Ohio. We both trained and fought in the Olympic trials in Louisville, KY in 1960.”
Holding an amateur record of 100-5, with six Kentucky Golden Gloves championships and successive National Amateur Athletic Union and Golden Gloves titles, Cassius Clay entered the 1960 Olympic Summer Games as one of America's most vaunted amateur fighters. Declared by Sports Illustrated as the USA’s best hope for a medal in boxing, Clay arrived in Rome as an ebullient 18-year-old from Louisville eager to impress, his cordial and outgoing manner earning him the nickname 'the mayor of the Olympic Village.'
This popularity carried over into the competition, with crowds cheering the young boxer as he danced and throttled his way past experienced boxers from Belgium, Russia, and Australia, culminating in a meet-up with Zbigniew ‘Ziggy’ Pietrzykowski in the gold medal match. Clay got off to a slow start, seemingly confused by his opponent's southpaw style, but found his form and momentum in the final rounds to secure a convincing victory.
According to British journalist John Cottrell: 'This sharper, better co-ordinated Clay stormed back with a torrent of combination punching which left Pietrzykowski dazed. He no longer relied too much on his left jab, but made equal use of his right to penetrate the southpaw’s guard. Ripping into the stamina-lacking Pole, he drew blood and came preciously close to scoring a knockout. At the final bell, Pietrzykowski was slumped helplessly against the ropes. There was no doubting the verdict. All the judges made Clay the points winner.'
