1. Zora "Bell" Folley was an American heavyweight boxer who was a top 10 contender for eleven years in a row from 1956 to 1966 and a nine-time top 5 contender throughout his career, reaching a peak as number 1 contender in 1959.
13 Facts About Zora Folley
1. 2.
Zora Folley beat top contenders such as Eddie Machen, George Chuvalo, Oscar Bonavena, Henry Cooper, world light-heavyweight champion Bob Foster, Nino Valdez, Doug Jones, Johnny Summerlin, Bob Cleroux and drew against Karl Mildenberger.
3.
Zora Folley saw active service during the Korean War, earning five battle stars, and was discharged from the US Army with the rank of Sergeant in 1953.
4.
Zora Folley beat contenders Eddie Machen, George Chuvalo, Bob Cleroux, Oscar Bonavena and Doug Jones.
5.
Zora Folley had draws with Karl Mildenberger and Eddie Machen, and defeated Mike De John, Alex Miteff, Pete Rademacher and Willi Besmanoff.
6.
Between 1960 and 1962 Zora Folley was knocked out by Sonny Liston, Alejandro Lavorante, Doug Jones and outpointed by Brian London.
7.
Zora Folley was one of the first to call the champion by his Muslim name instead of Cassius Clay.
8.
Ali stated he respected Zora Folley and was nervous before the match.
9.
Zora Folley was the last man to face Ali before Ali's three-year exile from boxing in 1967.
10.
Zora Folley fought for three more years afterward before being knocked out by Mac Foster in 1970.
11.
Zora Folley served as a member of the Chandler City Council, and raised a family of nine children with his wife Joella.
12.
Zora Folley's body was buried in the City of Mesa Cemetery, Mesa, Arizona.
13.
Robert Folley, son of Zora Folley, was fighting in the light heavyweight division making his pro debut at the Felt Forum, on June 19,1986.