The Story
It took just one small incident to set the course for Cassius Clay's life and fill him with the desire to become the Greatest of All Time. After his bike was stolen, a friendly police officer invited 12 year old Cassius to a local gym to learn how to fight.
Just eight years later, Clay stood with his hands up in a boxing ring, having just defeated Sonny Liston to take his title of World Heavyweight Champion.
The day after his previous victory over Liston, Cassius Clay announced that his name would now be Muhammad Ali. And just a few months after that, he fought his first fight as Muhammad Ali, a re-match against the powerful Liston.
One of the most heatedly discussed fights in boxing history was witnessed by the smallest crowd ever to see a modern-day world heavyweight championship fight. Only 2434 people witnessed Ali vs. Liston II in Lewiston, Maine on May 25, 1965.
For the people in attendance, the memory may last a lifetime, but the fight itself didntt last very long at all. Sonny Liston was knocked out just one minute and 42 seconds into the first round after spending 17 seconds on the canvas.
This poster, one of the best known images in sporting history, records the inspiring moment.
