February 25, 1964

Boxer Sonny Liston, son of Arkansas sharecroppers, lost the Heavyweight Championship to Cassius Clay (soon to be Muhammad Ali) when he refused to answer the bell for the seventh round. Liston was a noted boxer who briefly reigned as Heavyweight Champion after a first-round knockout against Floyd Patterson. However, his career was marred by criminal activity and, later, accusations of mob connections and throwing fights.