Athletes - Tunney Hunsaker

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	Athletes - Tunney Hunsaker

Tunney Morgan Hunsaker (January 1, 1930—April 27, 2005) was the police chief of Fayetteville, West Virginia in 1960 when Hunsaker was Muhammad Ali's (then Cassius Clay) first opponent in a professional boxing bout. Hunsaker lost a six round decision to the young challenger. Both of his eyes were swollen shut by the end of the bout. After the fight Hunsaker said " Clay was as fast as lightining ... I tried every trick I knew to throw at him off balance but he was just too good". In his autobiography, Ali said Hunsaker dealt him one of the hardest body blows he ever took in his career. Ali and Hunsaker became good friends and stayed in touch over the years. Hunsaker said he did not agree with Ali's decision to refuse military service, but praised him as a great humanitarian and athlete.

In his boxing career, Hunsaker was 15-15, and 7 by knockout. His career ended after a head injury in 1962. Hunsaker was in a coma for nine days and suffered the physical effects for the rest of his life. He was 75 when he died after a long battle with Alzheimer's Disease.

In his private life, Hunsaker was active in the Oak Hill Church of the Nazarene for many years, teaching a Sunday School class for fifth and sixth grade boys. At the time of his death in 2005, he had been married to wife Patricia for over thirty years.

Hunsaker was the youngest police chief in the history of West Virginia. He was later inducted into the Law Enforcement Hall Of Fame.

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