Clay And Liston To Meet Today

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30760, 26 May 1965, Page 13

Clay And Liston To Meet Today

<N Z.P.A -Reuter—Copyright)

LEWISTON (Maine), May 25.

Cassius Clay tonight has a chance to prove that the world heavyweight title he has held for 15 months is his by merit and not because of luck.

The controversial return bout between the voluble champion and the veteran, Sonny Liston, will be fought at the Central Maine Youth Centre, Lewiston.

The battle of words between the two camps will end as the two men climb into the ring to settle the matter with eightounce gloves.

In spite of his miserable showing at Miami Beach in February, 1964, when he lost the title to Clay, Liston was a strong favourite until a week ago. Now, the two will go into the ring almost even choices among the bookmakers.

They should be almost equal in weight. Clay has promised reporters: “The weigh-in will be even more exciting than the last one. The Bear (the name he gives Liston) might just be a little frightened too.” Clay said there would be no repetition of the wild, raving scene he staged at the weigh-in before the Miami fight, an outburst that prompted one doctor to describe him as “dangerously disturbed” and another as “scared to death.”

with promoting publicity. AU the energy I’ve got I’m going to need for the fight.” Clay said he would open

with an attack on Liston’s head, and soften him up with body punches. It was “impossible” that the challenger would last 10 rounds, he added. Liston, whose age is given as 31 but is generally regarded as closer to 40, appears considerably slower and less devastating than the man who won the heavyweight championship with a first-round knockout of Floyd Patterson in 1962. He has trained hard and says he is in top condition. But the long lay-off and strain of the postponement of the fight last November because of Clay’s sudden hernia operation, has obviously taken toll of Liston’s strength. He still remains a dangerous puncher with a left hook that could regain him the title.

Could Lose

During a recent interview in nearby Auburn, Clay was asked if any thoughts had crossed his mind about losing.

“1 know I can get beat—that’s why I have trained so hard for this fight,” he said. “Whatever happens, I have plans about what I’m going to do—something I like better than boxing. “To me, boxing is a stranger’s game An easy way to make money, sure. But I have another mission in life.

"I am serious and ready to fight,” said Clay. “I'm through

“If I lose, 1 may as well retire,” he said, “because I’d never get another shot at the title. I know the majority of the people—the press and the fans—want to see me get beat. “I can feel it when I talk to them. They want to see how I’ll look on the canvas.”