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On This Day: Muhammad Ali puts on a show in London
The boxing action has been non-stop in 2025, with plenty of cards shown live on DAZN each week.
But on this day 59 years ago, Muhammad Ali made quick work of Brian London, defending his world title for the final time on British soil.
Still viewed as one of the greatest to ever do it, Ali’s magic infrequently graced the United Kingdom, although he finished his career with six wins over four British opponents.
Ali was midway through what proved to be a mini-world tour, sparked by his comments indicating that he was going to refuse being drafted for service in the Vietnam War.
Originally scheduled to fight the World Boxing Association’s (WBA) heavyweight champion Ernie Terrell in the March of 1966, the Illinois Athletic Commission found ways to refuse sanctioning the bout.
Instead, Ali went to Canada to fight in Toronto, before returning to the United Kingdom for the first time since becoming undisputed world champion in 1964.
In his final fight prior to defeating Sonny Liston and becoming the man everyone wanted to beat in the heavyweight division, Ali had barely survived facing Henry Cooper at Wembley Stadium in 1963.
Knocked out in the fifth round of the first contest, Cooper went one better in the second, Ali ending the contest in round six at Highbury Stadium. Just months later, Ali was back in action against another one of Britain’s top heavyweights – Brian London.
Alongside Cooper, London was one of four names that dominated the heavyweight scene in the UK. Welsh duo Joe Erskine and Dick Richardson rounded off the quartet, the members of which frequently fought each other during the 1950s and 1960s.
- Read next | Ricky Hatton, Joe Calzaghe, Josh Taylor: Ranking Britain's best world champions of the 21st century
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Son of boxer Jack London, Brian London would match his father in securing the British heavyweight title during his career. Prior to his contest with Ali, he had challenged for the world title once before; coming up short against Floyd Patterson in 1959.
London had received credit for lasting 11 rounds with Patterson, and his shared status as one of Britain’s top fighters paved the way for a bout with Ali.
Despite being born in the Northern outpost of Hartlepool, London’s name was fitting, with the contest being staged at the now-demolished Earls Court Exhibition Centre.
Attendance was poor, with many expecting Ali to make quick work of London, pointing towards the American’s numerous advantages. Not only blessed with his natural talent and speed, but the 24-year-old Ali was eight years younger, three inches taller, and eight pounds heavier.
London had lost three times to Cooper, the man Ali had just defeated for a second time, indicating that this was not going to be much of a contest.
That proved to be the case, with contemporary reports stating that London landed just one punch, a simple left jab that connected with Ali’s jaw in the first round, leaving the world champion briefly stunned.
But as London would go on to explain, there was no impetus for the Brit to take advantage and make a fight of it. Instead, there was no follow up, and Ali quickly regained control of the contest.
It would be over by the third – London perhaps going down too easily, getting back to his feet but not beating the count.
Years later London would recall to ITV: “[Ali was] big, fast and he could punch, whereas I was smaller, fatter and couldn't punch."
He added: “He stopped me in three rounds and that was it, I don't think I hit him. It was good money and I got well paid for it – that's all I fought for. Every fight I ever had, I always had a go, but with Muhammad Ali, I thought, Don't get hurt, Brian, and I therefore didn't try, which was wrong, totally wrong.”
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It is suggested that London picked up $112,000 for his troubles; Ali’s purse was more than double at $252,000.
After defeating London, Ali’s next stop was to then-West Germany, where he defeated Karl Mildenberger, the first southpaw to compete for the heavyweight world title.
Ali’s comments on the Vietnam War still lingered, but he returned to the United States at the end of 1966. He would fight three times before being called for his army induction, and whilst he showed up in Houston, he refused to step forward when called upon.
He was arrested, potentially risking five years in prison. Remaining free as he appealed and eventually overturned the conviction via the Supreme Court in 1971, the biggest punishment to Ali’s career was a three-year exile via his boxing license being suspended and the stripping of his world titles.
Ali would go on to fight all over the world, including exotic places such as Malaysia and central Africa, but he would never partake in a competitive bout in the United Kingdom again.
London would fight a further nine times, but only win two more contests, before retiring in 1970. Having been wise with his money earnt throughout his career, London would open a nightclub in Blackpool, 007.
The nightclub would be in the headlines in 1971, when football stars Bobby Moore, Jimmy Greaves, Clyde Best, and Brian Dear were spotted in 007 hours before an FA Cup match. Their West Ham side would lose 4-0 to Blackpool, leading to criticism in the national media.
Famed playboy and partygoer George Best was another footballer to be spotted at the nightclub prior to a Manchester United match that same year.
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