Zora Folley

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Zora Folley (1932–July 9, 1972) was an African-American heavyweight boxer.

Born in Dallas, Texas, he moved with his family to Chandler, Arizona in 1942, where he grew up playing baseball. Upon joining the U.S. Army in 1948, he entered the boxing ring, and won the 6th Army championship within a year, eventually earning the All-Army and All-Service titles. He fought in the Korean War, earning five battle stars, and was discharged in 1953.

He then signed a professional boxing contract, winning his first pro fight against Jimmy Ingram, then after a draw, won seventeen straight victories until losing to Johnny Summerlin. Despite being considered a top contender, Folley never faced Floyd Patterson, and it wasn't until March 22, 1967, that he faced the world heavyweight champion, who at this point was Muhammad Ali. Folley was knocked out in the seventh round. Folley fought for three more years afterward before being knocked out by Mac Foster in 1970.

Folley was widely considered to be an upstanding citizen, serving as a member of the Chandler City Council, and raising a family of eight children with his wife Joella.

Under mysterious circumstances, Folley suffered severe head injuries while visiting a friend in Tucson, Arizona on July 8, 1972, and died at a Tucson hospital within hours. The death was officially ruled to be accidental, but conspiracy theories regarding his death persist.

The city of Chandler dedicated Zora Folley Memorial Park in his honor.

Zora Folley's final career statistics were 79 wins, 11 losses, and 6 draws, with 43 wins by knockout.

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