Cassius had won 2 big fights in 1963 against contenders Doug Jones and Henry Cooper. His title shot was set for February 25, 1964 in Miami Beach, Florida against feared Charles ‘Sonny’ Liston. Liston had destroyed Floyd Patterson in one round twice, and was listed as an 8-1 favorite over what sportswriters had labeled the ‘Louisville Lip’. The 215 lb. Liston with the sledgehammer left jab, was figured to play with Clay, and knock him out early. Cassius had other plans altogether.
From the opening bell it was obvious actually taller Clay was no joke. He moved swiftly, and kept a stiff jab in Liston’s face consistently. He also dropped in solid right hands to earn respect. Liston, who Clay had nicknamed the ‘Bear’, continued to plod forward,but as the rounds progressed, the 8-1 odds looked only good for those who bet on the kid from Louisville. In desperation, Liston’s corner put liniment on his gloves, and it got in Clay’s eyes starting in the 4th round. He panicked when he returned to his corner, and asked Dundee to cut the gloves off because it was dirty tactics by Liston. Dundee told his fighter to run and his eyes would clear the next round,and that is exactly what happened. As his eyes cleared, Cassius returned to his peppering of Liston with hard blows, forcing him to quit on his stool after the sixth round. There was a new heavyweight champion of the world and boxing would never be the same.
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