Fan buys Muhammad Ali's childhood home

An investor — and fan of Muhammad Ali —has purchased the boyhood home of the boxing legend when he went by the name of Cassius Clay.

The western Louisville house was bought by Las Vegas real estate investor Jared Weiss on Monday, according to The Associated Press.  The small one-story home with its sagging porch went on the market in late August for $50,000.  Weiss closed the deal on the house for a purchase price of $70,000.

Louisville realtor Dave Lambrechts told the AP that the new owner wants to restore the home to how it looked when Ali lived in it as a boy.

"The guy's a huge Ali fan, and that's what spurred this," said Lambrechts.

The white home has a state historical marker in front recognizing the residence as the home of Ali when he was a boy and went by the name of Cassius Clay.  The marker says Ali lived in the mostly black neighborhood with his parents and brother and attended local public schools.

It was the home where the future boxing champion's "values were instilled" reads the marker.

"Ali's childhood home is really symbolic for the area," said Lambrechts.

The boxing legend and his wife, Lonnie, have multiple residences, but none in Louisville.  The Muhammad Ali Center in downtown Louisville is a museum and education center that is one of the city's biggest tourist attractions.

Lambrechts said Weiss hasn't finalized his plans for the home — which sits among a row of neat, modest single-story houses — but won't use it as a rental property.  Among the ideas being considered are turning the residence into a museum or using it for a charitable function.

Henry Cooper, 76, Dead; Scariest Boxing Photo Ever

Former heavyweight fighter Henry Cooper, one of the most popular personalities in the history of British sports died yesterday at the age of 76.  He was the first boxer to be knighted and was famous for almost knocking out a young Muhammad Ali when he was still known as the up-and-coming Cassius Clay in 1963.

Three years later, Cooper would be beaten to a bloodied pulp after he was stopped by Ali in a title fight in London.  A photo of the blood spattered Cooper after that fight made him the poster-boy for old-time boxing and a good reason to never enter the ring.

Cooper, who was left handed but stood in a right-handed stance, had a devastating left hook which British fans called "Enry's 'Ammer."  It was this same punch which knocked Clay into the ropes during the final seconds of the fourth round of their first meeting.  Clay saved himself by hooking his arm around the ropes, preventing him from slamming his head onto the canvas.

There was some controversy on whether or not trainer Angelo Dundee used smelling salts to revive the staggering Clay between the fourth and fifth rounds.  Clay went on to win in a 5th-round TKO while trailing on all scorecards.

In their 1966 title fight, Cooper was battered by the now World Champion Ali at  London's Highbury Stadium.   Ali stopped the bloodied Cooper in the 6th-round.

Ali once said Cooper's knockdown shot "hit him so hard that his ancestors in Africa felt it."

Cooper was a popular figure in Great Britain.  He won the British, Commonwealth and European titles, but never the world crown.

His sixteen year boxing career ended with a controversial loss to fellow Brit Joe Bugner by a quarter of a point in 1971.  It was claimed that Bugner's victory over the popular Cooper led British fans to never get behind the new champ.  That's how beloved Cooper, the small heavyweight, was in his homeland.

Cooper finished his career with a pro record was 40 wins with 14 losses and one draw.  He had 27 KO's.

In his later years, Cooper became disillusioned with boxing and what it had become.  Queen Elizabeth II knighted the gentlemanly fighter in 2000.

"I am at a loss for words over the death of my friend, Henry Cooper,"  Ali said yesterday.