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The 1963 fight between then-Cassius Clay and Doug Jones in 1963 is being shown on ESPN Classic tonight (Saturday) at 10 pm ET, and again on Sunday morning at 10 am ET. This was a big fight at the time as the winner would meet Champion Sonny Liston.
An interesting point is that Jones was a light heavyweight who went up to 188 to fight in the heavyweight division. Jones gave Clay a LOT of trouble in this fight, but after this Jones didn't do well in the heavyweight class.
There is something else about this fight. Doug Jones was a much less imposing specimen than Dempsey or Marciano, but gave Clay (Ali) all he could handle. A few months later, 190 pound Henry Cooper flattened Ali with a left hook. He looked more dazed than win Joe Frazier decked him in 1971.
These two fights were a reason why Sonny Liston was so heavily favored against Clay in February 1964. The Miami Convention Hall was only half-filled.
An interesting point is that Jones was a light heavyweight who went up to 188 to fight in the heavyweight division. Jones gave Clay a LOT of trouble in this fight, but after this Jones didn't do well in the heavyweight class.
There is something else about this fight. Doug Jones was a much less imposing specimen than Dempsey or Marciano, but gave Clay (Ali) all he could handle. A few months later, 190 pound Henry Cooper flattened Ali with a left hook. He looked more dazed than win Joe Frazier decked him in 1971.
These two fights were a reason why Sonny Liston was so heavily favored against Clay in February 1964. The Miami Convention Hall was only half-filled.