26 February,2014 08:50 AM IST | | PA Sport
While no charges have been made so far, documents reveal that the famous, 50-year-old fight, which announced Muhammad Ali to the world, had been investigated by the FBI for fixing
Muhammad Ali stands over the fallen Sonny Liston. Pic/Allsport Hulton/Archive
New York: Cassius Clay's victory over Sonny Liston in Miami 50 years ago was the launchpad for the boxing career of the man who came to be known as Muhammad Ali - but it has now emerged that the fight was the subject of a fixing investigation by the FBI.
Muhammad Ali stands over the fallen Sonny Liston. Pic/Allsport Hulton/Archive
Liston was the much-feared heavyweight champion going into the fight with a 22-year-old Clay on February 25, 1964 but it was the latter who declared himself 'King of the world' as Liston did not return for the eighth round.
Clay, who later changed his name after converting to Islam, went on to become one of the biggest global sporting superstars and leave lasting memories in the ring following tussles with Joe FrazIer and George Foreman, as well as a second win over Liston.
But now the Washington Times has gained access to files which show the FBI did investigate whether the fight was fixed, under the Freedom of Information Act.
There is no suggestion from the acquired memos that Ali was in any way involved but, with FBI director J Edgar Hoover the addressee of the documents, it is clear the suspicions were taken seriously, even if no charges were ever brought.
Cassius Clay, later known as Muhammad Ali, (left) lands a right hook on Sonny Liston's body. Pic/Central Press/Getty Images
Ash Resnick, a Las Vegas gambler, was the main suspect and it is a memo of an interview with fellow gambler Barnett Magids that is the most suggestive of foul play.
Liston's big payday
"At about noon on the day of the fight, (Magids) reached Resnick again by phone," the memo reads.
"At this time, Resnick said for him to not make any bets (on the Clay-Liston fight), but just go watch the fight on pay TV and he would know why and that he could not talk further at that time.
"Magids did go see the fight on TV and immediately realised that Resnick knew that Liston was going to lose," the document states.
"Later people 'in the know' in Las Vegas told Magids that Resnick and Liston both reportedly made over one million dollars betting against Liston on the fight."
Because of Clay's unexpected victory there were instantly questions over the validity of the fight but Liston maintained he went into the bout with an injured shoulder, the reason he did not return after the seventh round.
Liston - who died in 1970 - was allowed his share of the purse and, following a number of hearings, no evidence was found to suggest it had been a fixed fight.
