Which boxer defeated Sonny Liston twice?

Muhammad Ali defeated Sonny Liston twice. Their first fight took place in Miami Beach on February 25, 1964, when Ali—then still known professionally as Cassius Clay—stunned the heavily favored champion. Liston failed to answer the bell for the seventh round, giving Clay a technical-knockout victory and the world heavyweight championship.

The rematch was held on May 25, 1965, in Lewiston, Maine. Ali won by a first-round knockout after Liston fell from a fast right hand. The bout became one of boxing’s most debated contests because many spectators did not clearly see the punch, and referee Jersey Joe Walcott struggled to manage the count and the fighters’ positions.

The two victories helped define Ali’s rise from Olympic champion and outspoken challenger into boxing’s central figure. A common mistake is to remember only the first upset or to confuse Liston with another major Ali rival, such as Joe Frazier or George Foreman. Ali’s record against Liston was two wins, with both fights ending before the scheduled distance.