SteemSports Editor:
The famed black and white broadcast pit two of the world's most competitively fierce boxing heavyweights against each other in front of the nation. The mid 60s venture was one of the biggest fights of all time, and it led to a rematch months later which ended even more famously...
This is not the fight in which Ali was photographed from above and below in his vintage 'ooh-wee' pose and fashion, this was the fight in which Ali established his jab early and entirely outclassed Liston for six rounds before forcing his retirement at the end of the round.
Ali showed tremendous movement and grace in this fight; people truly realize the brilliance and one of a kind nature Muhammad possessed... although at the time he still had his birth name: Cassius Clay. The reformation of a name and character actually came not too soon after this fight...
...and this win. After the first Liston victory, Cassius decided to become Muhammad, and he decided to forfeit his citizenship and freedom in order to avoid a war he found no reason to fight in. Post Clay vs. Liston 1, much of boxing and the world itself was changed.
The freedom fighter in Ali was recognized as a man who had true grit in both the ring and in waking life. Ali represented the regular citizen who didn't want to fight in a bloody war just because they had to, and his protest increased awareness to what most Americans thought at the time.
This fight was one hell of a performance from the eventual GOAT. Liston was a sturdy boxer with very good power, and not only could he not lay a glove on Ali, he couldn't hurt him when he did! Float like a butterfly, and sting like a bee.... he surely did, and he always will!
