There was a time when just stepping into the ring with him was enough to make opponents tremble. His fists didn't just knock out challengers; they asserted his absolute dominance. Yet, history has ...

Back then, Ali was still known as Cassius Clay, and at 22, he fought Sonny Liston for ... Ali started the fight fast and eventually began frustrating Liston with his game plan.

Like the Dempsey-Tunney long count and Jack Johnson's infamous dive against Jess Willard, this Liston-Clay fight will remain a subject of continuing controversy. Could a healthy Sonny Liston have ...

The underdog Cassius Clay, later known as Muhammad Ali, took on defending champion Sonny Liston, who had been the heavyweight champion since 1962. Liston conceded after the sixth round after ...

Muhammad Ali knocked out Sonny Liston in the first round of their second fight. Watch Ali's most iconic bouts on ESPN+.

Well this is a far cry from the sullen Sonny Lister and the clownish ... One could have said ironically, after the fight, that it was a mystery why Liston went down, and a bigger mystery why ...

Muhammad Ali standing over Sonny Liston / IMAGO / TT It was also Ali's last fight under the official name Cassius Clay. He soon converted to Islam, changing his name to Muhammad Ali from that ...

On May 25, 1965, Muhammad Ali knocked out Sonny Liston in the first round of their second fight. Watch Ali's most iconic bouts on ESPN+. Skip to main content Skip to navigation ...