Ali's Knockout Punch: How a Photograph Stunned the Boxing World

Ali's Knockout Punch: How a Photograph Stunned the Boxing World — page 7
agreed in 1963 to fight Clay said he would give Liston boxing and talking lessons but what he really needed were falling down lessons He went to Liston’s home in the middle of the night honked his horn and challenged him to come out Ferdie Pacheco a doctor who worked with Ali for years said Ali believed that the only thing that would shake up Sonny would be if he thought Ali was crazy And that is exactly how Ali acted with him crazy Clay continued this strategy until February 25 1964 the day of the fight The two boxers went to the weigh-in a short ceremony for the news media that takes place before a major bout Clay was shouting and demanding to see Liston acting as if he were ready to fight him on the spot He called Liston a chump and vowed I’m going to whup you so b-a-a-d But underneath his tough talk Clay had some concern Boasting was a way for him to build his confidence Before the fight Pacheco saw that Clay was nervous This was the only time I ever really saw him nervous The first and last time Pacheco said later He was just a kid and that night he had no idea if he could really do what he had been saying he could do all along Most sportswriters doubted Clay could live up to his boasts Almost all of those who were questioned before the fight predicted Liston would win Some were hoping that Liston would do it convincingly to finally shut up the Louisville Lip But in the end Clay did what he said he would do He went bear huntin and beat Liston for the championship Liston said afterward that he had injured a shoulder during the fight making it impossible for him to lift his left arm after the sixth round