Earl CampbellEric DickersonLawrence TaylorLeBron JamesPaul ScholesZinedine ZidaneIvan RakitićWayne RooneyKhabib NurmagomedovJordan HendersonCharles LeclercHaile GebrselassieHank AaronJoe LouisSeve BallesterosLarry HolmesLance ArmstrongEddy MerckxSebastian CoeTom BradyMatthew Le TissierMike SingletaryMarcus AllenFlorence Griffith-JoynerMichael PhelpsMark SpitzTadej PogačarAdam PeatyFlorence Griffith-JoynerAllyson FelixVirgil van DijkSergio AgüeroPatrick VieiraNemanja VidićWillie CarsonPhil TaylorNeymar Jr.Fernando TorresN'Golo KantéNico Williams
🥊 Triumph Boxing

Cassius Clay Defeats Sonny Liston

The moment that introduced the greatest heavyweight champion to the world — and one of sport's most perfectly delivered upsets.

1964 · 25 February

Advertisement

The 22-year-old Cassius Clay defeated the apparently invincible Sonny Liston as a 7-1 underdog. Liston refused to come out for the seventh round, giving Clay the world heavyweight title. Clay immediately announced he had joined the Nation of Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali.

The moment that introduced the greatest heavyweight champion to the world — and one of sport's most perfectly delivered upsets.

Why It Matters

Athletes Involved