Whistle Stopper - Muhammad Ali vs Sonny Liston: Clay Shocks the World

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Binding: VHS Tape EAN: 0018713091680 Format: Color Label: NBC Sports Manufacturer: NBC Sports Number Of Items: 1 Publication Date: 1990 Publisher: NBC Sports Running Time: 45 Studio: NBC Sports
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: Clay-Liston I - Cassius Clay Beats Up The Big Bear! Comment: NBC Sports created a brief series in the early 1990's called "The Greatest Fights Series". This is the first fight in that series, and it is a perfect introduction to the rest of the series, as it features a 10 to 1 underdog Cassius Clay going up agaisnt the seemingly unbeatable Sonny Liston. In 1964, Cassius Clay was a brash "loud-mouth" (who patterned his verbal tirades after the Wrestler Gorgeous George). Clay insisted to anyone who would listen that he could beat the reigning heavyweight champion of the world, Sonny Liston. Liston was a menacing slugger who had absoluetly destroyed former champ Floyd Patterson in 2:02 of the first round, then beat him again in the rematch in 2:04! No one thought that Liston could be beat, for he had knockout power in each hand and apparently had no weaknesses. For young Cassius Clay, just 22 years old, to be spouting off that he could whip Liston, was just asking for a beating from the champ! Yet Clay persisted his verbal asault on Liston, calling him the "Big Ugly Bear" and going to his house in Denver late one night and laying a big bear trap on his front yard while raising holy hell! Liston signed for the fight and was confident he could crush the upstart challenger. Clay was 210 pounds, mostly mouth, and had only beaten Old Archie Moore to prove he was a contender. Liston did not train as hard has he had in previous bouts and took Clay lightly. After round one ended, Liston knew he was in for a fight, for Clay's speedy jab and his uncanny ability to pull his head away from punches left Liston with a puffy right eye and frustration at hitting nothing but air! This went on for the first 4 rounds with Clay clearly outclassing Liston with his youthful speed. Feeling his energy sapping and getting desperate, Liston had his trainer apply some blood clotting liquid to his gloves before the 4th round began. Liston then stuck his gloves in Clay's eyes virtually rendering him blind by the end of the round. Between the 4th and 5th rounds, Clay was wild in his corner insisting that Angelo Dundee cut off his gloves and quit the fight! But Dundee, sensing victory over Liston, picked up Clay and shoved him out against Liston with the wise advice to avoid getting hit! Clay used every trick in his boxing skills as he dodged the haymakers Liston threw at him. Unbelievably, Liston never landed a single solid head punch the entire round! By the end of the round, Clay's eyes had watered out the irritant, and Clay peppered the exhausted Liston with stinging jabs. By the sixth round it was apparent that Liston was going to be badly beaten as Clay hit him with every punch in the book. Claiming a shoulder injury, Liston quit on his stool after the 6th round and surrendered his championship to Clay. This started the Clay-Ali lengend, which spanned more than 15 years. For boxing fans, this is a must video. it is very well done and will be a pleasure to watch. Jim "Konedog" Koenig, Boxing Enthusiast More Reviews
Editorial Reviews: Nobody gave the brash Cassius Clay a chance against a feared slugger Charles "Sonny" Liston. Clay, better known as Muhammad Ali, the name he later adopted, was making his first attempt for the world heavyweight title. But standing between Clay and the corwn was the semmingly invicible Liston, a brutal punching machine. Boxin experts gave the young challenger virtually no shot against Liston. Odds-makers makde Clay a distant 8-1 underdog in the eagerly anticipated showdown that took place on February 25, 1964 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. But the bombastic Cassius Marcellus Clay promised to beat Liston and "shock the world". In recording one of the sports greatest upsets, Cassius Clay ushers in an era that set the future of the heavyweight division and turned the boxing world upside down. This Emmy Award Winnning NBC sports Production focuses on this historic Clay/ Liston fight as well as the events surrounding this celebrated matchup. Rare kinescope footage of Clay and LIston leading up to and after the fight is included along with the actual fight, call provided by Steve Ellis and Former Heavyweight Champ, JOE LOUIS.