Sonny Liston was a terrifying boxer, known as much for knocking out his victims as much as his arrest record. However, there was no doubt that he meant business when he entered the ring.
Liston challenged Floyd Patterson for the heavyweight title and declared he would take it in five. Well, he didn’t.
In the bout, which was held on this day in 1962 at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Liston took control from the start. He pounded away at Patterson’s ribs and dropped the champion with a powerful left hook to the jaw
Patterson was counted out at 2:06 and it was the first time in history a world heavyweight champion had been knocked out in the first round.
More memorable events on this day:
2004: West Indies snatch an unlikely two-wicket victory chasing 218 against England in the ICC Champions Trophy final at Lord’s despite fading light.
2005: Spain’s Fernando Alonso becomes the youngest F1 world champion at the age of 24 after finishing third in the Brazilian Grand Prix.
2011: Britain’s Mark Cavendish wins men’s road race at the cycling World Championships in Copenhagen.
