The History of the Heavyweight Championship

The year is 1960: the boxing world is still pining for a champion like Rocky Marciano, a European holds the title for the first time but Floyd Patterson is about to dominate the ring. Sonny Liston is shamefully ignored, and a young Casius Clay is about to change it all. Join Steve Bunce as he unpacks the best decade in Heavyweight Championship history – one decade at a time.

For show notes, pictures and more, visit https://uk.sp...

The year is 1961: We pick up our tour through the best decade in the heavyweight championship in Miami, where heavyweight champion Floyd Patterson is preparing for his third fight with Sweden's Johannson. Can Ingo land a bingo? It's a fantastic year for boxing journalists who capture "the paradise of fools" and their fights, politics and theatrics. Liston continues to stalk Patterson, and Casius Clay will have eight fights this yea...

Welcome to 1962: Steve Bunce continues his tour through the best decade in the history of the heavyweight championship. Floyd Patterson finally gives Charles Sonny Liston a shot at the title. The fight is expected to be the most profitable in the history of the sport, and will lead to the famous quote: "There is a big difference between having fear in you, and being a coward. [He] had fear in him, but he wasn't no coward."

For s...

It's 1963, and Steve Bunce is continuing our tour through the best decade in the history of the heavyweight championship. It's all here: every fighter and fight that matters. Sonny Liston is the heavyweight champion but still searching for respect from the industry. Casius Clay pubicly taunts Liston into a fight, but will the money be right? "I'll get locked up for murder if I fight him," Liston says.

For show notes, pictures an...

Steve Bunce talks us through what must be the biggest year in the biggest decade in heavyweight championship history: 1964. Casius Clay is unbeaten in 19 fights, but at the tender age of 22 even the bookies agree he is the underdog going into his fight with Sonny Liston. The Beatle's John Lennon chooses to back Liston (despite being rudely booted out of his gym earlier in the day), telling reporters Clay will not even last a round....

We're halfway through the decade that defined the heavyweight championship. Welcome to 1965: the year Cassius Clay matures from boy to man. Join Steve Bunce as he describes the rematch between Clay and Sonny Liston. The fight is surrounded by furore, including racism, death threats and intrigue.

For show notes, pictures and more, visit https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/boxing/

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Steve Bunce's journey through the decade that made the heavyweight championship continues in 1966, as politics and sport begin to trade blows. With American soldiers deployed to Vietnam at an ever-increasing rate, Muhammad Ali turns his back on the US military draft and becomes a conscientious objector. The decision will have serious consequences for Ali's boxing career, and sparks a global debate on civil rights.

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Welcome to 1967: the must-see fight of the year is between Muhammad Ali and the United States Army. Steve Bunce continues his tour through the best decade in the history of the heavyweight championship, painting a picture few could believe to be true.

For show notes, pictures and more, visit https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/boxing/

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It's 1968, and as Muhammad Ali continues his time in exile, Steve Bunce moves his attention to those still allowed in the ring as Joe Frazier faces off with Buster Mathis. But even with his gloves off, it is Ali who continues to dominate the headlines.

For show notes, pictures and more, visit https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/boxing/ 

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Steve Bunce's all-encompassing look back at the decade that shaped heavyweight boxing reaches its conclusion. Its 1969 and the politics and skirmishes continue in and out of the ring, all building towards a new era for boxing and the "fight of the century" between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.

For show notes, pictures and more, visit https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/boxing/

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