Tunney Morgan Hunsaker (September 1, 1930 – April 27, 2005) was an American professional

boxer Boxer most commonly refers to: *Boxer (boxing), a competitor in the sport of boxing * Boxer (dog), a breed of dog Boxer or boxers may also refer to: Animal kingdom * Boxer crab * Boxer shrimp, a small group of decapod crustaceans * Boxer snipe ee ...

who is best remembered as the first professional opponent of boxing great

Cassius Clay Muhammad Ali (; born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer and social activist. A global cultural icon, widely known by the nickname "The Greatest", he is often regarded as the gr ...

, later known as

Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali (; born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer and social activist. A global cultural icon, widely known by the nickname "The Greatest", he is often regarded as the gr ...

. Outside of his boxing career, Hunsaker served many years as the Police Chief of

Fayetteville, West Virginia Fayetteville is a town in and the county seat of Fayette County, West Virginia, United States. The population was 2,887 at the 2020 census. Fayetteville lies adjacent to the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve and is directly south of th ...

Early life

He was born in the Western

Kentucky Kentucky (, ), officially the Commonwealth of Kentucky, is a landlocked U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern region of the United States. It borders Illinois, Indiana, and Ohio to the north, West Virginia to the ...

town of

Princeton Princeton University is a private Ivy League research university in Princeton, New Jersey, United States. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the Unit ...

, in Caldwell County. In his youth he served in the

United States Air Force The United States Air Force (USAF) is the Air force, air service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is one of the six United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Tracing its ori ...

, stationed at

Lackland Air Force Base Lackland Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) base located in Bexar County, Texas, United States. The base is under the jurisdiction of the 802d Mission Support Group, Air Education and Training Command (AETC) and an enclave of ...

San Antonio, Texas San Antonio ( ; Spanish for "Anthony of Padua, Saint Anthony") is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in Greater San Antonio. San Antonio is the List of Texas metropolitan areas, third-largest metropolitan area in Texa ...

Boxing career

In 1960, Hunsaker was

's (later

) first opponent in a professional boxing bout. After the fight Hunsaker said, "Clay was as fast as lightning ... I tried every trick I knew to throw at him off balance but he was just too good". In a thumbnail profile of the fight the following January, young Cassius was reported as having remarked that Hunsaker's style was far different from what Clay had been exposed to as an amateur and Olympian; the young fighter admitted to nervousness going in, and that Hunsaker's aforementioned pro style, had given him trouble. This respect appears genuine, as it was lasting—in his autobiography, Ali said Hunsaker dealt him one of the hardest body blows he ever took in his career. Ali and Hunsaker became good friends and stayed in touch over the years. Hunsaker said he did not agree with Ali's decision to refuse military service, but praised him as a great humanitarian and athlete. Learning of Hunsaker's passing, Ali commented to WV Public Radio, "I have fought better fighters but none with a bigger heart." In the fight game, Hunsaker was a small heavyweight, perhaps better suited for light-heavy classification (175 lbs. limit); today, he would most likely compete as a cruiserweight (190 lbs. limit). He fought as a boxer-puncher, by his own telling. Hunsaker once appeared on the undercard at Madison Square Garden. Hunsaker ended up with a record of 17 wins with 15 defeats with 8 wins by knockout. His career ended after a boxing-related head injury suffered on April 6, 1962, in Beckley, West Virginia. Rushed to a Beckley hospital, Hunsaker was in a coma for 9 days during which he underwent two brain operations.

Law enforcement career

Hunsaker became the youngest police chief in the history of West Virginia, going on to serve as Fayetteville police chief for 38 years. He was later inducted into the Law Enforcement Hall Of Fame.

Personal life

Fayette Station Bridge - Tunney Hunsaker Sign

Hunsaker was active in the Oak Hill

Church of the Nazarene The Church of the Nazarene is an evangelical Christian denomination that emerged in North America from the Wesleyan-Holiness movement within Methodism during the late 19th century. The denomination has its headquarters in Lenexa, Kansas. and it ...

for many years, teaching a Sunday School class for fifth and sixth grade boys. He was three times named Sunday School Teacher of the Year. At the time of his death in 2005 he had been married to wife Patricia for over thirty years. In the US state of

West Virginia West Virginia is a mountainous U.S. state, state in the Southern United States, Southern and Mid-Atlantic (United States), Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States.The United States Census Bureau, Census Bureau and the Association of American ...

, the Fayette Station Bridge carrying County Route 82 over the New River at the bottom of

New River Gorge The New River Gorge National Park and Preserve is a United States national park and preserve designed to protect and maintain the New River Gorge in southern West Virginia in the Appalachian Mountains. Established in 1978 as a national rive ...

was named after him.

Death

Hunsaker suffered the physical effects of his last match for the rest of his life. He was 74 when he died on 27 April 2005, having been afflicted with

Alzheimer's disease Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease and the cause of 60–70% of cases of dementia. The most common early symptom is difficulty in remembering recent events. As the disease advances, symptoms can include problems wit ...

in his last years. His body was buried in Huse Memorial Park cemetery,

Professional boxing record

, - , align="center" colspan=8, 17 Wins (8 knockouts, 9 decisions), 15 Losses (7 knockouts, 8 decisions), 1 Draw , - , align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Result , align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Record , align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Opponent , align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Type , align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Round , align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Date , align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Location , align="center" style="border-style: none none solid solid; background: #e3e3e3", Notes , -align=center , Loss , 17–15–1 , align=left, Joe Shelton , KO , 10 , April 6, 1962 , align=left,

Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center The Beckley-Raleigh County Convention Center (originally the Raleigh County Armory) is a 2,856-seat indoor arena and convention center located in Beckley, West Virginia. It is used for basketball and is home to the West Virginia University Institu ...

Beckley, West Virginia Beckley is a city in Raleigh County, West Virginia, United States, and its county seat. The population was 17,286 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, making it the List of municipalities in West Virginia, ninth-most populous city in th ...

, align=left, , - , -align=center , Win , 17–14–1 , align=left, Thomas Dejarnette , KO , 1 , February 24, 1962 , align=left,

West Virginia State Penitentiary The West Virginia Penitentiary, located in Moundsville, West Virginia is now a withdrawn and retired Gothic architecture, gothic-style prison that operated from 1866 to 1995. The site is now being maintained as a tourist attraction, museum, train ...

, , - , -align=center , Loss , 16–14–1 , align=left, Sonny Banks , KO , 2 , October 16, 1961 , align=left,

Detroit, Michigan Detroit ( , ) is the List of municipalities in Michigan, most populous city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is situated on the bank of the Detroit River across from Windsor, Ontario. It had a population of 639,111 at the 2020 United State ...

, , - , -align=center , Loss , 16–13–1 , align=left, Thomas Dejarnette , TKO , 8 , September 28, 1961 , align=left,

, align=left, , - , -align=center , Win , 16–12–1 , align=left, Herman Wilson , TKO , 6 , August 22, 1961 , align=left,

Fairgrounds Stadium Cardinal Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium in Louisville, Kentucky. It was on the grounds of the Kentucky Exposition Center, and was called Fairgrounds Stadium when it first opened for an NFL exhibition football game between the Baltimore Colt ...

Louisville, Kentucky Louisville is the List of cities in Kentucky, most populous city in the Commonwealth of Kentucky, sixth-most populous city in the Southeastern United States, Southeast, and the list of United States cities by population, 27th-most-populous city ...

, , - , -align=center , Loss , 15–12–1 , align=left, Tod Herring , UD , 10 , April 25, 1961 , align=left, City Auditorium,

Houston, Texas Houston ( ) is the List of cities in Texas by population, most populous city in the U.S. state of Texas and in the Southern United States. Located in Southeast Texas near Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, it is the county seat, seat of ...

, , - , -align=center , Loss , 15–11–1 , align=left, Alejandro Lavorante , KO , 5 , March 21, 1961 , align=left,

Freeman Coliseum Freeman Coliseum is a sports and concert venue located in San Antonio, Texas. It has been host to thousands of events including the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, concerts, trade shows, motor sports, circus, professional sports including profes ...

, align=left, , - , -align=center , Loss , 15–10–1 , align=left,

, UD , 6 , October 29, 1960 , align=left,

Freedom Hall Freedom Hall is a multi-purpose arena in Louisville, Kentucky, on the grounds of the Kentucky Exposition Center, which is owned by the Kentucky State Fair Board. It is best known for its use as a basketball arena, previously serving as the home ...

, align=left, , - , -align=center , Loss , 15–9–1 , align=left,

Tom McNeeley Thomas William McNeeley Jr. (February 27, 1937 – October 25, 2011) was a heavyweight boxer in the 1950s and 1960s. He came from Arlington, Massachusetts, and played football for Michigan State University. His son, Peter McNeeley, and father, To ...

, TKO , 9 , April 12, 1960 , align=left,

Boston Arena Matthews Arena (formerly Boston Arena) is a historic multi-purpose arena in Boston, Massachusetts currently owned by Northeastern University. It is the world's oldest multi-purpose athletic building still in use, as well as the oldest arena in u ...

Boston, Massachusetts Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth (U.S. state), Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and Financial centre, financial center of New England, a region of the Northeas ...

, align=left, , - , -align=center , Loss , 15–8–1 , align=left, Johnny Jenkins , SD , 6 , February 5, 1960 , align=left,

Madison Square Garden Madison Square Garden, colloquially known as the Garden or by its initials MSG, is a multi-purpose indoor arena in New York City. It is located in Midtown Manhattan between Seventh Avenue (Manhattan), Seventh and Eighth Avenue (Manhattan), Eig ...

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

, , - , -align=center , Loss , 15–7–1 , align=left, Jim O'Connell , PTS , 10 , January 16, 1960 , align=left,

Kenova, West Virginia Kenova is a city in Wayne County, West Virginia, United States, situated at the confluence of the Ohio and Big Sandy rivers. The city's name is a portmanteau of Kentucky, Ohio, and Virginia (Va), owing to its location where the three states me ...

, , - , -align=center , Loss , 15–6–1 , align=left, Hosea Chapman , UD , 12 , November 14, 1959 , align=left, Memorial Auditorium,

, align=left, , - , -align=center , Loss , 15–5–1 , align=left, Bert Whitehurst , TKO , 10 , September 30, 1959 , align=left,

Charlotte, North Carolina Charlotte ( ) is the List of municipalities in North Carolina, most populous city in the U.S. state of North Carolina and the county seat of Mecklenburg County, North Carolina, Mecklenburg County. The population was 874,579 at the 2020 United ...

, , - , -align=center , Loss , 15–4–1 , align=left,

Ernie Terrell Ernest Terrell (April 4, 1939 – December 16, 2014) was an American professional boxer who competed from 1957 to 1973. He held the World Boxing Association's heavyweight title from 1965 to 1967, and was one of the tallest heavyweights of his era ...

, PTS , 8 , July 24, 1959 , align=left,

, , - , -align=center , Win , 15–3–1 , align=left, Bennie Thomas , PTS , 8 , July 1, 1959 , align=left,

, , - , -align=center , Draw , 14–3–1 , align=left, Hosea Chapman , SD , 12 , June 20, 1959 , align=left,

Ravenswood, West Virginia Ravenswood is a city in Jackson County, West Virginia, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 3,865 at the 2020 census. Etymology Two differing stories tell of the naming of Ravenswood. One story tells that the town was origin ...

, align=left, , - , -align=center , Win , 14–3 , align=left, Billy Walters , KO , 1 , May 2, 1959 , align=left,

, , - , -align=center , Win , 13–3 , align=left, Terrell Pruitt , UD , 6 , March 28, 1959 , align=left,

, , - , -align=center , Win , 12–3 , align=left, Tiny Gibson , KO , 3 , September 30, 1958 , align=left,

, , - , -align=center , Win , 11–3 , align=left, Herbert Hair , KO , 2 , August 16, 1958 , align=left, Memorial Auditorium,

, , - , -align=center , Loss , 10–3 , align=left, Emil Brtko , KO , 2 , June 23, 1958 , align=left, High School Stadium,

Charleroi, Pennsylvania Charleroi ( ) is a borough in Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States, along the Monongahela River, 21 miles south of Pittsburgh. Charleroi was settled in 1890 and incorporated in 1891. The 2020 census recorded a population of 4,210. Red ...

, align=left, , - , -align=center , Win , 10–2 , align=left, Jim Saddler , SD , 6 , June 9, 1953 , align=left, Municipal Auditorium,

, , - , -align=center , Win , 9–2 , align=left, O'Neal Crocker , TKO , 4 , June 2, 1953 , align=left, Ringside Club,

, , - , -align=center , Win , 8–2 , align=left, Carl Griffin , KO , 1 , April 20, 1953 , align=left,

Dallas Sportatorium The Sportatorium, located in downtown Dallas, Texas, was a barn-like arena used primarily for professional wrestling events. The building, which stood at 1000 S. Industrial Blvd, or the intersection of Industrial Boulevard and Cadiz Street (near ...

Dallas, Texas Dallas () is a city in the U.S. state of Texas and the most populous city in the Dallas–Fort Worth metroplex, the List of Texas metropolitan areas, most populous metropolitan area in Texas and the Metropolitan statistical area, fourth-most ...

, align=left, , - , -align=center , Win , 7–2 , align=left, Joe Arthur , SD , 10 , March 10, 1953 , align=left, Municipal Auditorium,

, , - , -align=center , Win , 6–2 , align=left, Ranchero Alonzo , PTS , 8 , February 10, 1953 , align=left, Municipal Auditorium,

, , - , -align=center , Loss , 5–2 , align=left, Ranchero Alonzo , PTS , 6 , December 30, 1952 , align=left, Municipal Auditorium,

, , - , -align=center , Loss , 5–1 , align=left, Whitey Berlier , PTS , 10 , November 5, 1952 , align=left,

, , - , -align=center , Win , 5–0 , align=left, Pat Viola , UD , 6 , October 20, 1952 , align=left, Municipal Auditorium,

, , - , -align=center , Win , 4–0 , align=left, Jesus Vargas , KO , 3 , October 7, 1952 , align=left, Municipal Auditorium,

, , - , -align=center , Win , 3–0 , align=left, Ranchero Alonzo , PTS , 6 , September 23, 1952 , align=left, Municipal Auditorium,

, , - , -align=center , Win , 2–0 , align=left, Pat Viola , PTS , 6 , July 31, 1952 , align=left,

Austin, Texas Austin ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Texas. It is the county seat and most populous city of Travis County, Texas, Travis County, with portions extending into Hays County, Texas, Hays and W ...

, , - , -align=center , Win , 1–0 , align=left, Pat Viola , UD , 4 , July 22, 1952 , align=left, Municipal Auditorium,

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hunsaker, Tunney 1930 births 2005 deaths American municipal police chiefs Boxers from West Virginia People from Fayetteville, West Virginia American members of the Church of the Nazarene American male boxers Law enforcement officials from West Virginia 20th-century Methodists Sportspeople from Fayette County, West Virginia 20th-century American sportsmen