Sonny Liston built himself up to be one of the most feared heavyweight champions in boxing history. He was considered invincible. That all came to a halt when he faced a 7-to-1 underdog, a brash 22-year-old named Cassius Clay.
Clay blinded Liston with speed, tiring him out through six rounds. His jab was something to marvel at, and he even landed sharp combinations, outclassing Liston. Liston got cut by the eye in round three, and at this point, it was considered target practice for Clay.
Though Clay felt blinded in the later rounds, Liston could not take advantage even after a brutal round-five effort. Clay won in round seven, boasting to those who would listen, “I am the greatest!”
Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali shortly after. The rematch that took place left no doubt, as Ali’s legacy grew with a knockout in the first round. Those fights were the start of one of the greatest runs in boxing history.
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