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Sonny Liston
Sonny Liston was the greatly feared Heavyweight Champion of the World when Ali fought him February 25, 1964. Liston had knocked out Floyd Patterson in the 1st round of their fight, the British champion Henry Cooper said “we don’t even want to meet Liston walking down the same street.”
Cassius Clay was a glib 22 year-old who had been knocked down by journeymen fighters in his early bouts. He came in as a 7-1 underdog, sportswriters all predicting a quick Liston victory.
Clay’s speed and movement in the fight was overwhelming. After Liston refused to answer the bell for Round 7 and Clay was declared the winner, he danced around the ring shouting to his disbelievers: “I shook up the world! I am the king! Eat your words!”
Henry Cooper
Henry Cooper was the British, European, and Commonwealth heavyweight Champ when Cassius Clay first fought him on June 18, 1963. The Wembley Stadium bout was Clay’s first professional fight outside the US.
In the dying seconds of the fourth round, Cooper unleashed his trademark left hook, “’Enry’s ‘Ammer.” Clay was knocked to the canvas, and literally saved by the bell. Still on the canvas when the round ended, Clay was staggered and appeared ready to be knocked out in the next round. Clay’s trainer, Angelo Dundee, seemed to create a few extra seconds of recovery time for his fighter by opening a rip in Clay’s gloves.
Clay recovered, ferociously attacking Cooper in the 5th round, and winning by a TKO.
He later said that Copper “had hit him so hard that his ancestors in Africa felt it.”
George Foreman
George Foreman was younger than Ali by 8 years, was the reigning heavyweight champ, and was a huge favorite to beat the battle-weary Ali in the October 30, 1974 title fight. Don King had set bout for Zaire, Africa where the heat could work against the older fighter. Ali had lost his title 7 years earlier and many thought this would be his last fight.
Although known for his dancing, Ali adopted the dangerous tactic of lying against the ropes and allowing Foreman to pound him. This seemed foolhardy; Foreman was known for his ferocious punching power. Even Ali’s corner frantically urged him to get off the ropes and dance.
But Ali’s “rope-a-dope” gamble paid off. By Round 8, Foreman was exhausted from throwing punches in the heat and humidity. Ali came out with a flurry of combinations and knocked out the unbeatable “Big George” in a stunning upset that gained Ali his second heavyweight crown.
