Presented here is the cover of the Referee Magazine issue from November 19th, 1966, previewing the championship fight between Cassius Clay, although he went by Muhammad Ali in 1966, and Cleveland Williams. Ali defeated the 33-year-old Williams in a quick three rounds, although Williams was still recovering from a gunshot wound in the abdomen delivered during a traffic stop gone wrong. While Ali’s career seemed to be on a meteoric rise after this fight, he would only face two more opponents before his incarceration due to his refusal to fight in the Vietnam War.

     This copy of Referee Magazine features a photo of Ali next to a marquee announcing the Williams-Ali fight. Ali signed the cover in black marker as “Cassius Clay”. This item comes with a LOA from PSA/DNA.

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