Clay vs. Liston

The Clay vs. Liston fight, held in 1964, was a heavyweight boxing match between Muhammad Ali (then Cassius Clay) and Sonny Liston. It was famous for Clay's confident prediction of victory and his unorthodox style. During the fight, Clay used quick footwork and elusive punches, but the match is most remembered for Liston’s quick knockout loss in the first round, which shocked many. The bout marked Ali’s rise to fame and was notable for controversy over whether Liston threw the fight or was truly defeated. Overall, it established Ali as a major boxing star.