Tunney Morgan Hunsaker (September 1, 1930 – April 27, 2005) was an American professional
boxer who is best remembered as the first professional opponent of boxing great
Cassius Clay, later known as
Muhammad Ali. Outside of his boxing career, Hunsaker served many years as the Police Chief of
Fayetteville, West Virginia.
In 1960, Hunsaker was
Cassius Clay's (later
Muhammad Ali) first opponent in
a professional boxing bout.[1][2] 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.[3] 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.[4]
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.[5]
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.[6]
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,[1]. He was later inducted into the Law Enforcement Hall Of Fame.[7]
Personal life
Hunsaker was active in the Oak Hill
Church of the Nazarene 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.
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 in his last years. His body was buried in Huse Memorial Park cemetery,
Fayetteville, West Virginia.