Sonny Liston seemed invincible before defending his title of world heavyweight champion against Cassius Clay on 25 February 1964 in Miami Beach. Twice, in 1962 and in 1963, Liston had defeated Floyd Patterson in the first round. Liston's muscles were impressive but the challenger, better trained, won the fight.
The pair of gloves used by Cassius Clay in Miami Beach was sold for $ 840K including premium by Heritage on February 22, 2014.
The revenge promised to be stormy. Clay's invectives against Liston had contributed to irritate and weaken the colossus. None of them was welcomed by US officials. Liston's links to organized crime were known. Clay had become Muhammad Ali in the meantime to support a Black radical movement, the Nation of Islam.
The fight took place in Lewiston, Maine on May 25, 1965. Unexpectedly, Ali won by knockout in the first round. The blow by Ali's right arm was terrible but had generated a great confusion. The referee had not counted the knockdown and Liston was suspected of lying down. Indeed, the video does not clearly conclude.
To anticipate a formal investigation which ultimately did not take place, the Maine State Boxing Commissioner immediately seized their pairs of gloves, which long remained in his family. These two pairs originally collected for the risk of scandal have remained together and will be sold in one lot by Heritage in New York on February 21, lot 80063.
The pair of gloves used by Cassius Clay in Miami Beach was sold for $ 840K including premium by Heritage on February 22, 2014.
The revenge promised to be stormy. Clay's invectives against Liston had contributed to irritate and weaken the colossus. None of them was welcomed by US officials. Liston's links to organized crime were known. Clay had become Muhammad Ali in the meantime to support a Black radical movement, the Nation of Islam.
The fight took place in Lewiston, Maine on May 25, 1965. Unexpectedly, Ali won by knockout in the first round. The blow by Ali's right arm was terrible but had generated a great confusion. The referee had not counted the knockdown and Liston was suspected of lying down. Indeed, the video does not clearly conclude.
To anticipate a formal investigation which ultimately did not take place, the Maine State Boxing Commissioner immediately seized their pairs of gloves, which long remained in his family. These two pairs originally collected for the risk of scandal have remained together and will be sold in one lot by Heritage in New York on February 21, lot 80063.
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