Customer Reviews

Sonny Liston vs. Cassius Clay

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
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Bill Cayton literally spent a lifetime in boxing, but he may be best remembered for releasing a number of CD's on legendary championship bouts from the original radio broadcasts through the Prime Time Boxing moniker.

This CD is the two Ali-Liston fights - I believe as many do that Ali had converted to the Nation of Islam before the first match - with Ali capturing the world title in a stunning 1964 upset and then defending the title by a "stunning" knockout in 1965.

Liston was considered unbeatable before the first fight - and his ring presence was captured in the classic Esquire magazine cover photo of the then champion attired in a Santa Claus outfit and wearing his "game face."

There were pundits - perhaps prejudiced by Ali's religious awakening - who felt the 1964 victory was a fluke, probably due to an injury Liston suffered in the earlier rounds. And controversy swirled around the second match, as it is still reported that Ali won through a "phantom" punch, with Liston taking a very bad dive.

Liston's boxing career as a major contender seemed to be over after the second Ali match, but by 1970 he had positioned himself back into the title chase before his untimely death (murder?) on December 30th of that year.

The CD places the listener at the championship fights as they took place. These bouts are as much cultural history as a narrative from the annals of the sport. It is a must for those who are interested in 1960s pop culture as much as it is for boxing fans.

I mean, I wish these reviewers would put down who the announcer was. I know that Howard Cossell called this fight along with Rocky Marciano, for ABC radio, back when Cossell was first becoming a broadcaster. Is this that broadcast?? I hope it is. I mean, If they would include info like that, maybe they would find it a little easier to sell these CDs. The fact that they don't include any information like that leads me to wonder if it might be some awfull "re-inactment" of the original announcement. I hope it is not one of those

GREAT ITEM WITH EXCELLENT SOUND AND QUALITY.LISTON WAS NOT SUPPOSE TO WIN EITHER FIGHT AS HISTORY WAS CREATED WITH CASSIUS CLAY AT THE EXPENSE OF SONNY LISTON. LISTENING TO BROADCAST ALMOST FEELS LIKE LISTENING TO FIGHT THE NIGHT LISTON WAS DETHRONED. BECAUSE OF HIS PASS LEGAL MISCHIEFS HE NEVER GOT THE CREDIT HE DESERVED.