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.sports.yahoo.com/boxing/

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 year: one on his 19th birthday.For show notes, pictures and more, visit https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/boxing/

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

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 and more, visit https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/boxing/

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. Find out what happened in the match – and the year – that changed boxing history.For show notes, pictures and more, visit https://uk.sports.yahoo.com/boxing/

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/