Saturday - November 14, 1964 Boston, Massachusetts Heavyweight Champion Cassius Clay was 'floored for the count' by a Hernia he suffered on Friday Night (November 13th). It was truly an 'Unlucky Friday the 13th', for the young Cassius, as this wil undoubtedly postpone his Championship Bout with former Champion - Sonny Liston. The injury, will set back the bout for at least 5-months, and most likely a new date for April or May 1965 will be set, and still at the Boston Garden. William Faversham Jr., the Manager for the Heavyweight Champion said he will talk to Sonny Liston, and waive his fight contract clause of not allowing Liston to have another fight. before facing the Champion. Sonny had a clause in his contract, that would not permit him to have another fight before fighting the Champion - Cassius Clay first. William Faversham Jr. 'We will modify the fight contract. It would not be fair to make Sonny sit around for 5 or 6 months waiting. We will add a clause to permit Sonny one fight, if he wants one. But, we must have approval of his opponent, and he must have the fight within 60-Days and no later than January 16, 1965. The rematch between Cassius and Sonny will be rescheduled for April or May of 1965.'
By all accounts Sonny was very much in shape and raring to for this rematch , this delay, saw him go off the boil bigtime
Money wise, Cassius Clay lost $50,000 in training expenses. Sonny lost $35,000. But, both more than made up for those losses with the new 1965 Tax Laws.
Sonny did not visit Cassius at Boston General Hospital, and did not send him a 'Get Well' card. This content is protected
Liston may well have put up quite a good fight had the Boston fight gone ahead. Ali would have stopped him between the sixth and tenth,though.
