On This Day Sonny Liston vs Muhammad Ali1st

Muhammad Ali was a 7-1 underdog heading into this title bout against then champion Sonny Liston. Ali sure did shock the world.

 

The first great achievement by the Greatest.

 

This began "The Birth of a Legend".

 

And a golden era kicked off on this day. Liston just did n't know what to do with Cassius/Muhammad.

 

666th Like, hope i am not cursed or something.
Ali was too much for nearly everyone at any point in his career.

 

He was a sensation. He basically revolutionised boxing. Handsome, brash and could fight like a threshing machine. 60’s Ali was very,very special.

 

Excellent post.

 

You can almost hear the air leaking out pf Liston. It's hard to tire of watching this.

 

Muhammad Ali in his peak years, 1964-1967 was nothing that we had never seen before from a heavyweight fighter, footwork, speed, reflexes, confidence and stamina. He could dance for 15 rounds if need be. Ali in a sense promoted his big bouts with his antics, got into his opponents head before the bout even started, which was a huge advantage for him. The opponents were beaten psychologically before entering the ring. He was the first African American champion to speak up on the issue of Civil Rights, which many politicians with political aspirations avoided, even though the Civil Rights bill was passed in 1964, racism continued to exist. Ali was the victim of a witch hunt due to his strong convictions, I respect Ali for standing up for these issues and not taking part in the Vietnam war. Before Ali, fighters were to be seen and not to heard, but he broke those barriers. Ali will always be the greatest in my opinion.

 

I always think this is one of Ali’s most underrated performances.
People seem to concentrate on Liston quitting on his stool in this fight and apparently laying down in the second fight.
Both the fights get packaged together as suspicious, but they seem to forget how good Ali was in the first fight.
Let’s face it after being decked by Cooper and looking sloppy and ill disciplined Ali was going to get killed by the monster Liston in this fight.
The contrast one fight later when he knew he couldn’t mess around was stark.
He was disciplined and stuck to the game plan of showing Sonny speed and movement. He out jabbed Sonny and also shook him up with the combinations it really was unexpected.
The fight was level on the scorecards but really Ali was out boxing Sonny who when he quit looked a beaten man.

 

Quit like a dog !

 

There's not many heavyweights that reach "living Legend" status during, and after their boxing careers. Both in and out of the ring.
Muhammed Ali most certainly did.

Rumble young man, rumble

 

Muhammad Ali was very articulate, and was a bigger legend than most. He was like an ambassador.

 

Preach it Griffo.