Muhammad Ali has said the 1964 world title victory over Sonny Liston was the most significant of his career. "It was the most important because I proved I was qualified to be a champion," he told The Times newspaper.
"At first I was scared. People thought he would kill me but I proved them wrong," said Ali of his Miami triumph.
Wednesday marks the 40th anniversary of the day Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, stunned the world by beating the all-conquering Liston.
Liston was the overwhelming favourite to successfully defend his title on the night of 25 February 1964.
However, the champion could not cope with Cassius Clay, as Ali was known then. Liston quit the contest while sitting down on his stool at the end of the sixth round.
Both that fight and the rematch a year later in Maine, which Ali won with a first-round knockout, have been dogged by allegations that they were fixed.
MMIX
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