In 1961, the outlandish veteran wrestler Gorgeous George (then 46) and the up-and-coming boxer Cassius Clay (then 19) both had matches at the same venue for the same promoter.
They were on the radio promoting their matches, and the boxer gave a half-hearted bravado for his fight.
Gorgeous George followed up by saying:
“I am the Gorgeous One! Not only am I the best wrestler, the most highly skilled, with the greatest technique, but I’m also the most beautiful wrestler who ever lived! ...And if that uneducated punk somehow manages to beat me, I’ll take the next jet to Russia! But that will never happen, because I am the greatest!”
Cassius (later Muhammad Ali) was inspired. He realized that this was a fight that he had to see. Later, Gorgeous George gave Ali the following advice at the convention center:
"...a lot of people will pay to see somebody shut your big mouth. So keep on bragging, keep on sassing, and always be outrageous.”
