Who beat Sonny Liston to become world champion for the first time?

On February 25, 1964, a young boxer named Cassius Clay shocked the world by defeating the reigning heavyweight champion Sonny Liston. The fight took place in Miami Beach, Florida, and was one of the most highly anticipated boxing matches of the era.

Cassius Clay, who later changed his name to Muhammad Ali, was considered the underdog going into the fight. Liston was a feared and dominant champion who had never been defeated in the ring. However, Clay's speed, agility, and unorthodox fighting style proved to be too much for Liston to handle.

The fight ended in the seventh round when Liston failed to answer the bell for the start of the round. Clay was declared the winner by TKO, and he became the new heavyweight champion of the world. This victory marked the beginning of one of the most legendary careers in boxing history.

If you want to learn more about this historic fight and the events leading up to it, you can visit this website for a detailed account of the match. You can also watch footage of the fight on YouTube to see firsthand how Clay was able to overcome the odds and defeat Liston.

After his victory over Liston, Muhammad Ali went on to have a storied career in boxing, becoming one of the most iconic and influential figures in sports history. He defended his title multiple times and participated in some of the most memorable fights in boxing history, including the "Fight of the Century" against Joe Frazier and the "Rumble in the Jungle" against George Foreman.

So, the answer to the question of who beat Sonny Liston to become world champion for the first time is Cassius Clay, who later became known as Muhammad Ali. His victory over Liston in 1964 solidified his place as one of the greatest boxers of all time.

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