Muhammad Ali: 50th anniversary of fight that launched a legend - 25th February 2014
(The Sydney Morning Herald)

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Cassius Clay beat Sonny Liston on February 25, 1964, to win the world heavyweight title. Gareth A Davies tells how he went on to become an iconic symbol of change.

It was 50 years ago on Tuesday, having already declared himself "The Greatest" and predicting in verse the fate of opponents, that a 22-year-old regarded as more of a braggart than a genius was crowned heavyweight champion of the world.

Five decades later, Cassius Clay, now Muhammad Ali, has transcended that championship title to become an iconic symbol of change in both sport and society. But he came into the ring that night against Sonny Liston in Miami Beach, as a scared, 7-1 underdog.

Clay was unbeaten in 20 fights but he was up against the champion, the heaviest puncher in the world, son of a sharecropper who had served two years of a five-year sentence for robbery in 1950. Known as "Big Bear", the ex-con with mob ties who had a fearsome reputation and had knocked out almost everyone put in front of him in the ring. But Clay brought something new: speed of mouth, feet and hands.

Iconic: Cassius Clay stands over fallen challenger, Sonny Liston. Photo: AP

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