{"id":38845,"date":"2024-02-21T17:33:04","date_gmt":"2024-02-21T17:33:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/alicenter.org\/?page_id=38845"},"modified":"2025-05-22T18:43:15","modified_gmt":"2025-05-22T18:43:15","slug":"ali-liston-60th-anniversary","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/alicenter.org\/ali-liston-60th-anniversary\/","title":{"rendered":"Ali v. Liston: 60th Anniversary"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n
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New Name, New Champion:
60 Years Later<\/h1>

Liston v. Clay - February 25, 1964<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n

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From Meeting to Matchup<\/h4>\n

Sonny Liston first encountered Muhammad Ali, then Cassius Clay, in February 1963 at Miami’s 5th<\/sup> Street Gym. However, it wasn\u2019t until November 1963 that the two boxers signed a contract to meet in the ring.<\/p>\n

Before their bout, Ali and Liston met at a press conference on February 14, 1964, where Ali forecasted the outcome of the match…<\/p>\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n<\/div>\n\n\r\n

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A Hard Day's Fight<\/div><\/h2>

Even The Beatles made a notable appearance at 5th Street Gym on February 18, adding to the excitement surrounding the event.<\/p>\n<\/div>\r\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

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Who’s Going to Win?<\/h4>\n

Despite a 19-0 record, Ali was an 8-1 underdog few believed would defeat the reigning heavyweight champion.<\/p>\n

Liston, a seasoned boxer who had recently defeated Floyd Patterson twice in a row with a knockout in the first round, was expected to do the same to Ali. Critics thought Ali\u2019s boxing style would be his downfall against Liston\u2019s seeming indestructibility, raw strength and killer left hook. However, Ali\u2019s speed and agility would offset the brunt force of Liston\u2019s jabs.<\/p>\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n<\/div>\n\n\r\n

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Pre-Fight Hype<\/h2>

Take a look at some publications released in anticipation of Ali's first fight against Sonny Liston.<\/p>\n<\/div> \r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n

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Fight Night<\/h4>\n

The boxers finally weighed-in for the historic match on February 25, 1964, at the Miami Beach Convention Hall in Miami, Florida. In Ali\u2019s corner were his trainer Angelo Dundee, his cornerman Drew \u2018Bundini\u2019 Brown, and his fight doctor Ferdie Pacheco. In Liston\u2019s corner were his trainer Willie Reddish, and his cut man Joe Polino. Spectators paid $250.00 to sit ringside in what was called, \u201cThe Golden Circle.\u201d<\/p>\n

The announcer introduced Ali as, \u201cthe challenger from Louisville, Kentucky, wearing white trunks with red stripes, weighing in at 210 and \u00bd lbs., the former Olympic light heavyweight champion, Cassius Clay,\u201d and Liston as, \u201chis opponent from Denver, Colorado, weighing 218 lbs., wearing white trunks with black stripes, the heavyweight champion of the world, Charles ‘Sonny’ Liston.\u201d<\/p>\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n <\/div>\r\n \r\n<\/div>\n\n\r\n

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