A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives. On Feb. 25, 1964, a 22-year-old Muhammad Ali, then Cassius Clay, became world heavyweight boxing champion for the first ...

Former heavyweight champion Sonny Liston's life is a mystery, with many remebering him as nothing more than a pawn for the ...

On the morning of Feb. 24, 1964, I sat in my office reviewing last minute details to the Cassius Clay-Sonny Liston fight to take place later that night at the Miami Beach Convention Center, when ...

On this day - February 25, 1964 - Cassius Clay defeats Sonny Liston for the heavyweight boxing title. Sports Illustrated magazine named the February 25, 1964 Clay - Liston fight (Clay had not yet ...

When Sonny Liston stepped into the ring in Miami Beach on February 25, 1964, he was widely expected to leave it the way he entered: as heavyweight champion of the world. Of the top 10 ranked ...

In any case, controversy has been a shadow over the two Clay-Liston fights and that shadow remains to this day. Unsatisfactory endings to both bouts — in February of 1964 at Miami Beach and in May of ...

The 32 year old Liston defended his title against the 22 year old Clay on February 25, 1964, in Miami Beach, Florida, Clay weighed in at 206lbs while Liston was 218 lb. Many of those watching were ...