Cassius Clay, the bashful 22 year old, declared after winning the title bout against Sonny Liston. Clay's claims that he would 'float like a butterfly and sting like a bee,' came true as he picked his first heavyweight title.

Liston, the reigning champion, began over-confidently even as Ali dodged his powerful head and body shots with lightening speed.

By the third round, Clay was calling the punches; he opened a scar under Liston's eye. The latter came back in the fourth as Ali was blinded, perhaps by a foreign substance used to close Liston's cut. Ali sought to evade Liston's knocks as he tried to regain his vision.

He was back on top by the sixth round. Liston shockingly gave up the fight in the seventh round, citing a shoulder injury.

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