On This Day: Cassius Clay Defeats Champion Sonny Liston 1964

On February 25, 1964, Muhammad Ali, who was still known as Cassius Clay, defeated a man who seemed indestructible…that was awesome Sonny Liston.

The WBC heavyweight title was at stake. Liston came to that fight after defeating the charismatic Floyd Patterson without problems. Sonny, a guy who had been a juvenile delinquent, didn’t talk much. Rather, he let his fists say everything for him.

On the other hand, Clay was a young man looking to make a name for himself in the boxing world after winning the light heavyweight gold medal at the 1960 Rome Olympics, but he was very clear about what kind of character he wanted to be.

Cassius’s chances were not thought to be very high according to the experts: Liston was a 7-1 favorite. The champion’s glazed gaze intimidated opponents.

However, the “Louisville Lip” was not intimidated and put up an unorthodox extraordinary fight. Liston attacked furiously from the start aiming for a short nights work, but Clay deftly evaded most of his ponderous blows, thanks to his greater agility and blinding speed. Clay’s combinations plastered the champion’s face and body again and again, causing a wound to his opponent’s left eye, the first time Sonny was cut.

In the sixth round Ali inflicted harsh punishment on Sonny, who no longer answered the bell for the seventh round, thoroughly demoralized, claiming a shoulder injury.

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