Fight that forever changed the lives of two champions

JOHN RIORDAN The second instalment of Ali-Liston may have produced one of the most iconic images of sport in the 20th Century but there’s a refreshing spontaneity in the boyish wonder of Cassius Clay when he won the world heavyweight title for the first time.

It was the biggest upset in the history of the division up until that point and its 50th anniversary will be marked later this month. Fifty years since Liston refused to come out for the seventh round. Fifty years since Clay’s hands reached skywards as it quickly dawned on him that all his pre-fight confidence and chatter had blossomed at the Miami Beach venue which hosted the blockbuster showdown.

Of course, many sceptics immediately cried foul, outraged that the hard-hitting, intensely feared Sonny Liston would resort to staying in his corner, protected by trainers desperately working on his left shoulder and finally giving up the ghost that their champ could have any hope of defending himself.