Rocky Marciano - 1966 Australian TV Interview - Muhammad Ali

Rocky Marciano - 1966 Australian TV Interview - Muhammad Ali

Australian sports broadcaster Ron Casey interviews boxing legend, Rocky Marciano. Marciano discusses Muhammad Ali (referred to as Cassius Clay) and his most recent defence of the World Heavyweight Title against Brian London. Marciano also discusses Ali's impact on the world of boxing.

Interview broadcast on Channel 7 (HSV-7) Melbourne, Australia on Sunday 7 August 1966.

A brief clip taken from "The Very Best of World of Sport" DVD.

Regarding Muhammad Ali being referred to as Cassius Clay throughout the interview, I believe it is important to consider this exchange in its proper historical context.

Australia in the 1960's was, for the most part, a conservative, Anglo-Celtic Christian nation. Islamic religion and culture were virtually unknown to most people. It is fair to say this ignorance extended to Ron Casey and the team at World of Sport.

It is true that Ali changed his name years before this interview was conducted, but we must allow Ron Casey and Rocky Marciano some latitude. When a "young loudmouth" boxer with a history of self promotion changes his name, it is not difficult to understand why conservative white society may assume this to be a publicity stunt. Better to refer to him by his old, easy-to-pronounce name than his exotic, foreign moniker.

To modern-day sensibilities, referring to Muhammad Ali as Cassius Clay seems disrespectful. But peeling back 50 years of social and political progress makes this reference easier to understand.

Insensitive? Perhaps. Malicious? I don't think so. I cannot comment on the American experience, but Australian society simply wasn't culturally diverse enough to accept Ali's change of name without some level of skepticism.