On this day, October 7th 1961 at Freedom Hall, Louisville, Kentucky, USA. Muhammad Ali (then Cassius Clay) beat Alex Miteff by a 6th round TKO.
Miteff, a 26-year-old from Argentina, was a promising heavyweight contender known for his body attacks, but he was no match for Muhammad. The “Louisville Lip” who brutally pounded Miteff and knocked him out in the sixth round. After the fight, Muhammad commented that the right which had knocked out Miteff was the hardest punch he had thrown in the ring to date.
Miteff was an outstanding amateur with 140 bouts loosing only 3, 11 draws and 126 wins. He turned pro in 1955 and after only one fight in his home country of Argentina he moved to New York where he became an immediate favorite at the old St.Nicholas Arena and Madison Square Garden.
On June 16th 1958, Miteff drew with the tough Canadian George Chuvalo. In the annual ratings of 1961 seven of the top 10 fighters all fought Alex Miteff at one time or another.
In 1962 Miteff along with Muhammad had a small part in the movie “Requiem for a Heavyweight”which starred Anthony Quinn and Jackie Gleason. Miteff played Quinn’s double.
Miteff retired, but he tried to come back five years later but retired for good after being KO’d by Jerry Quarry in the third round on April 27th 1967.
For many years Miteff worked as the chauffeur of film producer David Susskind and also worked as a hotel greeter.
